New-age plays for Marathi theatre buffs

In a bid to boost Marathi theatre, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is organising a five-day Marathi theatre festival called Pratibimb (Reflection), starting August 7. As HT reported on Sunday, the festival seeks to encourage and provide a platform for young, emerging talent, and will showcase six critically acclaimed plays. The traditional katta or interactive debate session will also be part of the festival.

In a bid to boost Marathi theatre, the National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) is organising a five-day Marathi theatre festival called Pratibimb (Reflection), starting August 7.

HT Image

As HT reported on Sunday, the festival seeks to encourage and provide a platform for young, emerging talent, and will showcase six critically acclaimed plays. The traditional katta or interactive debate session will also be part of the festival.

Theatre stalwarts like Shanta Gokhale, Jayant Pawar and Ravindra Pathare will discuss various aspects of theatre with the young directors. These sessions will be conducted at 5 pm on all five days of the festival, in the foyer of the Experimental Theatre. All those with tickets for the day’s play may attend.

“The idea was also to expose a wider audience to Marathi theatre,” said NCPA chairperson Khushroo Suntook, while announcing the festival on Tuesday. “Why should Marathi be restricted to Dadar and the suburbs? There is a sense of adventure in these plays, an exploration of a variety of issues and of modern urban relationships.”

All plays will be staged at the Experimental Theatre at the NCPA. “Those doing offbeat contemporary theatre face an ongoing challenge with lack of suitable venues for their plays,” said Deepa Gahlot, NCPA head of programming (Theatre & Film). “This is great platform for them.”