Packing a punch with monologues

Chandigarh’s oldest theatre group, Abhinet, to bring to the city a theatre festival on Aug 30.

IT’S back to the stage for Chandigarh’s oldest theatre group, Abhinet, which is bringing to the audience a theatre festival of monologues. Established in 1974 to promote the study and appreciation of drama by producing and sponsoring plays, the upcoming festival is part of Abhinet’s celebration of 41 years of promoting theatre, says Vijay Kapoor, director of all the three monologues, which will be staged back-to-back.

In the course of almost four decades, Abhinet has brought to stage over 75 full-length plays by Indian and foreign playwrights/writers such as Kalidasa, Mohan Rakesh, Arthur Miller, Rabindra Nath Tagore, Badal Sircar, Nirmal Verma, Girish Karnad, William Shakespeare, Samuel Beckett, T S Eliot, to name a few. Abhinet’s professional approach to theatre has earned its productions many accolades including invitation to numerous festivals across the country.

“It’s a special moment for theatre enthusiasts of our group, guided by the love for theatre. These monologues bring on stage the pathos, memories, trials and tribulations of five characters,’’ explains Kapoor, a theatre director, actor, author, painter, sculptor and secretary of Abhinet.

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The first monologue, ‘Dhoop Ka Ek Tukda’, is based on a story by renowned writer, translator and activist, late Nirmal Verma, and revolves around a divorced woman’s search for hope and sunshine in her life. This will be followed by ‘Chhua to Hota’, based on a story by Vijay Kapoor, and portrays soft, lyrical sadness with plots, counter-plots and symbols. The third monologue, ‘Sankraman’, is based on a story by late Kamtanath, who has immensely contributed to Hindi literature through his plays, stories and novels. This monologue captures the circle of life from three perspectives.

Dr Kailash Ahluwalia is the production manager of the festival and Dr Rajnish Chhabra is the stage manager. The cast includes Ridhi Talwar, Vimmi Bhullar, Amit Talwar, Mani Uppal and Madhvi Kataria.

The festival of monologues will be held on August 30 at Tagore Theatre from 6.30 pm to 8.40 pm.

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