Stage for More

Now,as the sixth edition of the TFT festival begins,there is a clamour of calls and enquiries from theatre lovers in Chandigarh.

In 1999,a group of theatre enthusiasts formed a group called Theatre for Theatre (TFT),and five years later,they held their first festival with three local plays. We had to gather people from parks,roads and colleges to come and see our plays, recalls Sudesh Sharma,one of the founders. Now,as the sixth edition of the TFT festival begins,there is a clamour of calls and enquiries from theatre lovers in Chandigarh. On Monday,an hour before the curtain rises for the Winter National Theatre Festival,the Tagore Theatre is chock-a-block,with many watching the play standing.

Clearly,Chandigarh is witnessing a revival of theatre and TFT can take some of the credit. At a time when television is dominated peoples lives,we have performed in front hundreds of people, he says,adding that the festival is supported by the Ministry of Culture,Haryana,and the Department of Cultural Affairs,Chandigarh.

Pravesh Sethi and Madan Gupta Spatu of TFT point out how the first theatre festival of this year has an interesting line-up of plays from across India,with directors promising a contrast of themes and treatments. Triyatra opens the festival,a play which highlights the works of three writers from three countries O Henry,Maxim Gorky and Gagan Mishra. The play has been directed by Gagan Mishra and Priya Darshanai and is being performed by Curio Performing Art Society,Jaipur.

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Sharma presents Loha Kut,the well-known play of Balwant Gargi,where a woman in Punjab revolts against patriarchal traditions. This play has been staged in the interiors of of Punjab and has a powerful text, says the director. Probir Guha of Alternate Living from Kolkata brings Gahr Wapsi Ke Geet,which deals with the issues of those who were left homeless during Partition and are still searching for an address,even after 63 years of Independence.

Tamra Patar,directed by Alakhnanadan and staged by Nirman Kala Manch,Bhopal,throws light on the socio-political messages of the freedom struggle as well as corruption in the present-day political system. From Bihar comes Sanjay Updhyay,who brings Dada Natakiya Kaun,written by Avinash Chander Mishra. The play tackles the issue of the land mafia of UP and Bihar.

Ghair Zaroori Log stirs collective memory through the characters of Manto. We take from the best six stories of Manto, explains director Mushtaq Kak,here from Jammu. The last play of the festival is Patrian written by Sanjay Sahay and directed by DR Ankur. It is a combination of two stories,Waapsi and Khel.

The plays will be staged at Tagore Theatre till January 23. Time: 6.30 pm. Entry is free.

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