It’s been ten years since Thespo, the brainchild of Theatre Group (TG) made its first appearance on the Mumbai stage. Since then this effervescent youth theatre festival has grown into a movement encouraging and sustaining youth theatre. Efficiently run and managed by Q Theatre Productions (QTP), Thespo has carved a niche for itself in the annual program of big cultural activities in Mumbai.

It has been able to spread its enthusiasm to other cities in India and has partnered with theatre institutions like Prithvi to give impetus to its youth theatre initiative. It moreover gives young theatre enthusiasts a simulation of the professional stage without the logistical bothers of fund raising, sound and lights hire, auditoria bookings, etc.
This year’s festival program will features plays, workshops, platform performances, a theatre photo exhibition, film screenings, a theatre magazine, and music gigs from November 25 to December 14, 2008 at the Prithvi and NCPA theatres.

After auditioning 55 plays from eight cities including Kolkata, Varanasi, Kanpur, and New York, four plays in English, Hindi, Marathi and Bengali are being staged at the Prithvi and NCPA theatres. The plays are Proof in English from Mumbai; Video in Hindi, English and Bangla from Kolkata; Dalan in Marathi from Pune; and Bhadmanus in Hindi from Bangalore.

Thespo is organizing seven workshops including Expressions through Body Movements by Sanjukta Wagh, Grips Theatre by Mohan Agashe where adults perform for children, Problem Solving by Akash Khurana, French Theatre by Sarah Doignon. UK theatrewallahs Sophie Larsmon and Jack Holloway will create a site specific piece through a 15 day workshop and Danielle Baker of Pekhamshed will work with specially abled participants.

Thespo X will open with ‘The Fourth Wall’ – an exhibition of theatre photography by Rafeeq Ellias, Madhu Gadkakri, Meenal Agarwal, Siddharth Siva and curated by Mathieu Foss, at Gallery Beyond, Kala Ghoda, from December 4 to 10, 2008.

The festival will culminate with the Thespo Awards Night where Thespo statuettes will be presented in various acting, directing, design and writing categories. However, the piece de resistance will be the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Sam Kerawalla for his contribution to theatre.

For further information click on the links below:

‘The Fourth Wall’

Thespo X - Festival Program

Thespo X- Synopses of Plays

Read about the ten-year evolution of Thespo (1999-2008)

About Q Theatre Productions

*The above information is courtesy QTP and the Thespo team. Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.