It's grand to the core,inside-out. A cast of 500,seven stages,mind-blowing music,a director like Amal Allana,a scenographer like Dr Nissar Allana and a story that touches issues which are ours.
Amal Allana & Dr Nissar Allana create a stage & space for expression,one thats also therapeutic
It’s grand to the core,inside-out. A cast of 500,seven stages,mind-blowing music,a director like Amal Allana,a scenographer like Dr Nissar Allana and a story that touches issues which are ours. Mohey Rang De,Vivek Highs mega annual production has it all,and with it a promise to take childrens theatre in Chandigarh to another level. The stage is set for drama that encompasses the finer bits of life…
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IN PERSPECTIVE:Theatre plays a part in putting things into perspective,and childrens theatre is essentially therapeutic that make ones process of learning and personality so complete, the chairperson of the National School of Drama,Amal Allana is loving her role as director of Mohey Rang De,where she gets together in body and spirit 500 children. For someone whose life revolves around theatre,having directed over 50 plays,all deeply rooted,yet with a broad vision,this play is unique for it takes her back to basics,working with children as a director is definitely a new role for me as the dynamics are so different,and getting their attention,especially such a big group is a challenge,which weve loved, smiles Amal. The play is in Punjabi,for Allana wanted them to converse,think and feel in their own language and except for the few initial apprehensions,the children were so at ease with it,not worrying about accent,vocabulary,pronunciation et al. As for the story,it deals with immigration,an issue thats related to their life and questions the relevance of a national identity in todays world. The subject is contemporary,and not removed from actuality and encourages them to ask the question,Who Am I?, Amal penned the text along with insights from the actors. Dance and songs take the story forward,so its not preachy,dull,but filled with exuberance and fun. The music is Punjabi folk,and Amal collaborated with Madan Gopal Singh,they need to appreciate whats their own,essential in todays time of mall and NRI culture and we had the entire track of the play recorded for a superb effect, the director agrees teaching them to dance was a task. But look at the plethora of qualities that they absorb through theatre,apart from techniques. Using their body,utilizing space,working together as a team,gaining confidence,building bond,speaking with ease…the results are tremendous, at the NSD,adds Amal,they have a huge programme devoted to childrens theatre,with theatre workshops being conducted all over the country,and Jash-Ne-Bachpan,our childrens theatre festival is a big hit. Amal is working with the NCERT to introduce theatre in schools and has prepared a syllabus for theatre,and the pilot programme will be started in various schools,these children will be our future audience and will be aware of every aspect of theatre and will make it grow, Amal is also busy with her new production,Metropolis.
SPACE & TIME:Each day with children,smiles Nissar is new,and they learn so much faster than adults and adapt so easily, the renowned scenographer has designed the sets of Mohey Rang De with cane and has craftsmen working on the seven stages for days. I wanted the children to see the creation of it,and let that also be a learning experience for them,without any inputs from me, Nisaar believes in creating something new with each production and not stick to any formula. The idea is to create time and space and not hold on to the old. You have to let go of things to try something new,for me the attachment is only ethereal, Nisaar is at present director of The Dramatic Art and Design Academy and a winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
Mohey Rang De will be staged at Vivek High on November 5.
