The most-awaited cultural event of the season begins today, but it's likely that tickets to that hot play are sold-out. Here's what you can do at the festival even if you are a late lateef
The most-awaited cultural event of the season begins today, but it's likely that tickets to that hot play are sold-out. Here's what you can do at the festival even if you are a late lateef
Prithvi Theatre in Juhu has, over the years, become a cultural hub of sorts. It's not just the plays that attract crowds to the quaint auditorium, but the tiny bookshop that stocks literary gems, the cosy cafu00e9 that serves you quite a kick-in-a-cup Irish Coffee and the first floor room in Prithvi House that's witnessed many a play readings and random ramblings. The same versatility is on display if you take a look at the schedule of the annual Prithvi Festival that kickstarts today, with the best plays from the remotest parts of India ready to be staged.u00a0
|
|
Members of Aranya rehearse Shabd Sangeet, one of the platform performances. pic/Mahanand Gupta |
But there are also the peripheralsu00a0- rock band performances, platform performances, book launches and exhibitionsu00a0- that make the festival go beyond the confines of the auditorium. Plus, they are free! So, this time around, staying away because you didn't make it to the box office in time, is hardly an excuse. The GUIDE brings you everything you need to know about fringe events, or at least as much as the harried organisers would disclose.
Rock BandsFurtados, Mumbai's iconic music store, unites with its counterpart from the theatre world to bring you performances by rock bands before each play opens at Horniman Circle. The band-list includes fresh talent dabbling in a variety of genres. It's that rare chance to catch your favourite band perform in an open-air setting.
u00a0
Platform performances These have been a part of the festival for the last few years. They are essentially short performances of plays, not more than 30 minutes long, performed in the foyer. This year, however, the performances also include a mushaira, a poetry performance, a classical guitar recital and folk music performances. "The idea was not to restrict ourselves to just plays. That's happening inside the auditorium anyway," says Gopal Tiwari, co-ordinator of platform performances for the festival.u00a0
Book LaunchThe book Our Stage: Pleasures and Perils of Theatre Practice in India is the outcome of a theatre seminar titled, Not the Drama Seminar, that was organised in March 2008 in Heggodu, Karnataka. The seminar was held to discuss and debate the current state of theatre in India. This book of essays is a culmination of the discussions held between leading figures representing theatre and society.
The book will be launched by GP Deshpande and Sadanand Menon at Prithvi Theatre.
On: November 16, 7 pm
ExhibitionEarlier this year, Indian theatre lost a legend, Habib Tanvir. As a tribute to the firebrand theatrewallah, the festival revives On the Road with Naya Theatre, an exhibition that was first created in 2004. The exhibition tells the story of Tanvir's life in theatreu00a0- from his travels across India, UK and Europe, to his bitter-sweet relationship with Madhya Pradesh and Chhatisgarh. The exhibition also focuses on eight of his landmark productions.
On: November 8 to 10 at Horniman Circle Garden. Time: 10 am to 8 pm.
