The Delhi Ibsen Festival 2012 : www.MumbaiTheatreGuide.com

The Delhi Ibsen Festival 2012

November 17, 2012 12:00:00 AM IST
MTG editorial

Shows at Kamani Auditorium (Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi):

December 1
7pm THE MASTER BUILDER

Courtesy - The Polish Institute, New Delhi
Directed by Wlodzimierz Staniewski
Produced by Padatik (Kolkata)
Hindi/ English

There is a story and a meta-story in this play. The story speaks of a man who, having exploited others, particularly women, is now driven to destruction by a rebounding female energy. The meta story emphasizes on the Ibsenian short dialogue that leaves a lot of space for interpretations suited to different times and cultures; the never-ending wars between old and young, between men and women; and the force vitale, which drives some characters beyond their limits.

2 December
7 pm WHEN WE DEAD AWAKEN
Directed by Sankar Venkateswaran
Produced by Theatre Roots & Wings (Kerala)
Malayalam with English super-titles

Ibsen creates 'drama' and 'action' out of human behavior, where language is vital. Different from Ibsen's approach, this production starts with evolving a stage language that is based on 'human nature' rather than 'human behavior'. This result is the desertion of the text, narration and action. What remains is a performance that relies on the power of the human presence, its passivity and sculptural beauty, resonating the primal human condition beneath the layers of Ibsen's language, characters and their behavior.

3 December
7pm GHOSTS GHOSTS
Directed by Ovlyakuli Khodjakuli
Produced by Ilkhom Theatre (Uzbekistan)
Russian with English super-titles

GHOSTS is a symbol of our animal instincts. The ghost in the play chases each character showing how difficult it is to keep an impartial attitude towards everything and everyone, not to sink to the savages, and not to be puppets in the hands of people with dubious intentions.

5 December
7pm THE LADY FROM THE SEA
Directed by Anne-Karen Hytten
Produced by The National Touring Theatre of Norway(Riksteatret)
Norwegian with English super-titles

This is perhaps one of Ibsen's most relevant plays demonstrating the art of making the right choices and living the life one wants. Who hasn't wondered what life could have been like if one had chosen differently? Is it possible to choose the life one wants? This is a story about Ellida who eventually has to choose between her husband and her lover.

7 December
7pm AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE
(An adaptation - MEEYAMGI YEKNABA)
Directed by Heisnam Tomba
Produced by Kalakshetra Manipur (Manipur)
Multilingual with English super-titles

This play addresses the irrational tendencies of the masses, the hypocritical and corrupt nature of the political system that they support. Who should control the levers of power in a society - the intellectually superior, the forward-thinking individual or the mindless majority? Who should dictate public policy?

Shows at LTG Auditorium (Copernicus Marg, Mandi House, New Delhi):

4 & 5 December
(7 pm on 4 December and 4 pm on 5 December)

GURRYA KA GHAR
(Based on A DOLL'S HOUSE)
Directed by Anwer Jafri
Produced by Tehrik-e-Niswan Cultural Action Group (Pakistan)
Urdu

Tehmina, a faithfully devoted wife finally realises that throughout her marriage she has been treated as a 'less-than-equal' partner, as a plaything- a doll. These circumstances provoke her to rethink her situation in life, awakening within her the spirit of self-discovery and revolt.

6 December
7pm JAI JAWAAN PARTY JAI JAWAN PARTY
(An adaptation of THE LEAGUE OF YOUTH)
Directed by Shubham Bhatia
Produced by Shunya Dramatic Society, Ramjas College
Hindi

JAI JAWAAN PARTY has been adapted to an Indian context of a small village located in Uttar Pradesh. This is about an ambitious young man who poses as a political idealist and forms a new party. The play aims to bring the attention of the audiences to reforms in the society but the old guard presses on.

Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.

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