By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Jan. 17: Remaining shut for 10 months, the drama theatres have reopened since Thursday.
All the theatres and cinemas were shut in March last year because of coronavirus.
After the government allowed resuming the entertainment sector, drama theaters have also come into operation following the health protocols of the government and WHO (World Health Organisation)
With the government permission to reopen the entertainment sectors, Shilpi Theatre on Thursday showed “Chha Patrako Yekalaap” directed by Yubraj Ghimire in Kathmandu.
By issuing a statement on Wednesday, Theater Hub, an umbrella organisation of drama theatres, said, “As per our collective decision to bring the theaters back into operation following all the safety measures, we have decided to open most of the theaters gradually from January 14.
Eight theatres working under working under Theatre Hub in Nepal are about to open simultaneously.
On the second day on Friday, a play “Haraundai Bhetaunda” was staged at Kausi Theatre.
No drama will be staged on the third day on Saturday, it said.
On the fourth day, Jhorahat Theatre in Biratnagar will show the play “Corona Times”.
Similarly, on the fifth day, a discussion programme on the model and staging of the new plays will be held at Arohan Gurukul in Biratnagar.
A press conference will be held at Pokhara Theatre in Pokhara on the sixth day.
Similarly, on the seventh, eighth and ninth days (January 20, 21 and 22), discourses about the theatre before and after the coronavirus pandemic and the way forward will be held at the Mandala Theatre, Kathmandu.
There will be a Shailee dialogue at 1 pm at the Shailee Theatre and a poetry reading programme by the theatre artistes on the last day at the Theatre Mall at 2 p.m.
As it is not possible to produce plays for all the theaters in a short period of time, the sole purpose of organising the programmes other than plays is to convey the message that all the theatres are united and open to the audience, said Kedar Shrestha, director of Theatre Mall.
Shrestha said that now the theatres had been opened with 50 per cent occupancy following the government's health standards.
“At the beginning , it will not be the same as before coronavirus period, but we are preparing to bring the drama theatres to its original state,” he said.