Show & Tell

Two detectives look for a missing ‘spark’ at the orientation meet of youth theatre festival Thespo’s 17th edition

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Actors share the rules of the festival through an hour-long performance.

Trust the theatrewallahs to put up a show, for a show. A missing “spark”, two detectives and a full house took over Prithvi Theatre on Monday afternoon as the youth theatre festival Thespo held the orientation meeting for its 17th edition. The meet-up, which guided the theatre enthusiasts through the rules and history of the annual festival, was nothing short of an act itself. While actors masqueraded on stage as detectives, among the audience, an hour-long investigation for the “stolen spark” of the festival began.

Open to anyone below the age of 25, the festival is a platform for people interested in any or every aspect of theatre — acting, directing, music, writing, photography and design. And the call for participation is not limited to the stage; the festival extends itself to workshop and opportunities to write for the Thespo magazine.

Over the years, Thespo has become known for encouraging and moulding budding talent. Among the many artistes who have forged a career after enrolling for Thespo, is actor Amrita Puri. At the orientation, she spoke to the youth about her journey in theatre and films, and how it was at Thespo that she discovered her first spark as an actor. “I found a space and voice here, and the team became a family. It’s a great space to discover whether this is something you want to do, whether you are even good at it — so it gives you that confidence and kick start,” said Puri. The actor also went back in time and spoke about playing a drug addict in her first performance on the Prithvi stage, as part of the festival, an experience that was both challenging and exciting.

Thespo 17 will take place between December 7 and 13 at the Prithvi Theatre in Juhu, Mumbai. Orientation meetings will be held in Kolkata, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Delhi and Pune as the festival opens itself to every corner of the country, promising to produce performances that are diverse in ideas, cultures, and art forms.