Prithvi Theatre Festival: Curtain raiser

A scene from Unhen Kuch Kehna Hai, to be performed in the festival.

Writer-director Abhishek Majumdar’s award-winning new play, Kaumudi opened the 10-day-long annual Prithvi Theatre Festival on Thursday. While the inaugural show was meant for special invitees, the festival opens to the public today, with yet another show of Kaumudi. The festival, this year, has 13 plays, including six premiere productions, and the organisers have chosen to keep all content “original” and selected the plays which have been written, composed and choreographed locally.

Besides, there will be several music concerts, theatre talks and a circus show. The line-up of music concerts includes a classical music recital by Devaki Pandit on November 15; Sunday Acoustic Jam featuring Neeraj Arya’s Kabir Cafe, a modern rendition of Kabir’s verses, on November 8; and a premiere performance of Vanraj Bhatia’s composition Sinfonia Concertante by the Symphony Orchestra of India on November 9. Upholding the tradition of performing in the open, Fringe shows are free for all and staged in the theatre precincts.

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The five plays to be presented at 7.30 pm as part of that are Unhen Kuch Kehna Hai (November 6), Margdarshan (November 7), Shah Ki Kanjri (November 8), Stages Economics (November 9) and Peele Scooter Wala Aadmi (November 10).

For the last few years, the festival has organised Stage Talk, hosting conversations with eminent theatre professionals on their work and journey in theatre. This year, Rajit Kapur, Rajat Kapoor, Ahlam Khan Karachiwala, Mohit Takalkar, Lillete Dubey and Ratna Pathak Shah will share their experiences with the audience.