The company’s third Children Theatre Festival is no different, including, among other things, “Ma Joker Banchhu,” a play which evolves around a child who has never seen his father smile; “Baula Kaji ko Sapana,” a play putting forth a father’s dreams, a Russian story “Vanka,” where a little boy entrapped by poverty dreams of freedom. [break]
All are relevant topics in the local contexts, according to Kedar Shrestha, a member of the theater group and the organizer of the festival.
The Children Theatre Festival 2012 will run from February 9 to 15, featuring 10 productions, including three plays from the Shailee Group in which members of the team will take starring roles.
Kedar said the festival this year would be featuring “very exciting and interesting plays. These plays speak for and of children’s experiences in fiercely passionate and powerful ways,” he added. “But far from being navel-gazing, they are very universal and human, reflecting the anxieties and fears, the hopes and dreams of childhood.”
All three plays that are from the organizers, Ma Joker Bnachu, Baula Kajiko Sapana, and Vanka, have been staged before but the group believes staging it again “makes sense.”
“These plays haven’t been seen by a large number of people because they have been staged in really small venues,” Kedar explained.
“All three treat subjects that are rather not being discussed the way they should be because of our racial history and sensitivity. I think those are important plays, because they’re about conflict resolution, and by re-staging them, we want to bring them to a bigger audience.”
The festival also prides itself on staging premieres and that too from schools.
At the theatre marathon, which is to continue for seven days, there will be staging of plays which are written, directed and acted out by various schools of the capital.
“We’re encouraging theater in schools,” Kedar said. “The idea is really to discover the new, and encourage kids to write and stage plays.”
The play “Jamunko Rukh,” directed by Ramhari Dhakal and Rabindra Singh Baniya, raises voices against the political situation in a satirical manner. “Bodhi,” a play by Samuna KC from the freelancing group, talks of child psychology. Also to be staged is “Manbhitraka Aawaz,” written by Dhruva Ghimire.
To select the final seven, the group had to reject three scripts. The call for applicants was announced in early December.
“It’s still going to take us a few more years to get people aware of theater and its prospects,” said Manju Devkota, a member of Shailee and also one of the festival organizers. The theatre company, nonetheless, is happy to have received an increased number of participants compared to the previous two years.
The selected groups have been notified of their day of performance. The Shailee Group is however staying away from the rehearsal sessions. “We don’t want to manipulate or influence them in any manner,” informed Manju. “The winning team will get the prize solely on the basis of their performance.”
The final day will see three awards being given out: The Best Actor, Best Director, and the Best Play. Each winner will receive the cash prize of Rs 5,000.
“The money is a small amount but all we’re trying to do is encourage them to take theatre further,” Manju explains.
This one of a kind festival in the country is the brainchild of Nawaraj Budhathoki, also the Director of Shailee Theatre.
“The fest is just another way of showing my love for children,” he says. Prior to Shailee, he was associated with Pumpkin, another theatre company which ceased to exist owing to its members not being able to manage their time.
Currently alongside Shailee, he also works with Sath Sath and an organization that showcases street drama on children and child rights.
This particular festival, he believes, will serve two purposes, “to encourage discourses on various children’s issues, and promote theater culture.”
The fest will take place at The Russian Centre of Science and Culture, Kamal Pokhari. There will be two shows everyday, at 11 am and 2 pm. The venue will also have a book exhibition.
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