This is a scene from Anup Baral’s theatre production, “Oho! Star Duniya,” showcased at Sarwanam Theatre in the first week of November. The play about the aspirations and struggles of actors tells the story that is relevant even outside the confines of the theatre. Borrowed from Indian playwright Neel Chaudhary’s work on Bollywood, and morphed to fit into Nepali context, this play certainly leaves the audience pondering over the aspirations of young Nepali actors.[break]
“When we started theatre, it was a hobby,’ says Sunil Pokharel, artistic director and Kul Guru at Aarohan Theatre Group’s Gurukul. He explains that in the theatres in South Asia, it was always young people who led the business.
“Actors start off young, and when they reach the age where they are bound by family and social responsibilities, they hand it over to the younger generation. This was how theatre survived in Nepal as well.”
But Pokharel himself has defied this trend, involved with theatre almost all his life. He is still working to revive Gurukul, which had shelved its performances since January this year due to space problems. Currently busy in organizing the fourth installment of Kathmandu International Theatre Festival, he says that he is pretty happy with how Nepali theatre has evolved since he began his journey.
“It’s a natural process that every new generation is smarter than the previous one, and theatre has seen the same changes,” says Pokharel. But more than that, young people taking acting as a career choice is what excites him the most.
He slots the new young actors venturing into acting in three categories: The first are those whose primary interest is to act in films and they are in the theatre to accentuate their skills. Secondly, there are those who are only concerned with acting, be it in theatre or films, and are equally looking forward to any medium to explore and showcase their talents. The final category of people, according to him, are those who find their passion and comfort only in theatre.
“The number of people falling into the first category is increasing considerably,’ he says.
Menuka Pradhan, 23, who was a part of the ensemble of the recent film, Visa Girl, has been with theatre since 2009. But theatre wasn’t her first choice.
“I had auditioned for a role in the movie ‘Ek din Ek raat’ and was selected. Anup (Baral) Sir was the casting director of the film, so that was how I got to know him. Then eventually I realized that I needed more training and joined the Actor’s studio,” she says.
She belongs to the sixth batch from the studio, which runs three-month training courses in dramatic arts and acting. It was from there she started her journey to theatre. Since then, she has already acted in more than half a dozen plays and four films.
Now that she has experienced working in both theatre and films, she says that it is really hard to be a professional theatre artist.
“Movies are commercial, and I feel it has more scope than theatre,” she says.
Pokharel, on the other hand, says that whether in films or in theatre, it is a hard journey for actors, “There isn’t good financial backing in theatre and when you’re just starting, movies too, don’t offer a good deal. So, it’s a tough road ahead,” he says.
However, he stresses that working in theatre needs more patience and passion.
“Young actors should be aware that theatre is still a coveted art, loved and experienced by only a certain number of people. And you won’t be offered the lead in each and every production. And even if you’re playing the lead character, you won’t be greatly noticed by the audience in the shows that lasts for 10 days,” he says.
Jeevan Adhikary, another young actor who started acting one year back, has worked as an actor in two productions so far. “I’ve worked as a stage crew or an extra in plays,” he says. His primary interest is also working in films.
He shares that he has insecurities regarding his career in acting.
“My family is supporting me in my career choice, so I need not worry about the practical necessities of life for now. But I keep thinking if I would be able to continue my acting if I’m to survive on my own,’ he says.
Pradhan also has anxities about the future of her acting career.
“Sometimes I wonder whether I can solely rely on acting. Perhaps I should I have a backup plan,” she says with a smile.
But both Pradhan and Adhikary still have hopes for their career as actors.
“There are actors who have proved that this profession works if you’re committed and have the substance in you,” says Adhikary.
Pokharel too believes that the theatre scene in Nepal has improved a lot.
“Young actors will have to carve a niche of their own. But the growing interest in audience is also a big boost for the people involved in it,” he says.
The charms of theatre, however, not only make the audiences come back for extravagant performances but actors who have made their way to films also fall back to embrace the dark and dazzle of the stage. The amalgamation of such actors with young ones is seen during the preparation days of the Kathmandu International Theatre Festival.
“Theatre has been satisfactorily institutionalized in Nepal,” says Pokharel who sits outside the venue of the festival. The festival, which has been a treat for Nepali audience for the past three years, also marks the rise of theatre in Nepal. During the 15-day event, Nepali theatre companies will be sharing the stage with many international troupes.
On the last days of preparation, theatre actors and enthusiasts gather outside the small premises outside the Mandala Theatre auditorium. Inside, the auditorium needs a lot of work to be readied for the festival, but the enthusiasm of the young and veteran people present there don’t allow any doubts to float about the success of the festival, or the future of theatre for that matter.
The Kathmandu International Theatre Festival is starting today and will continue till December 7. The shows are held at 12 noon and 4:30 pm at the Mandala Theatre, Anam Nagar.
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