Theatre in Pokhara in revival stage

By Santosh Subedi,Kaski, June 13: Pokhara is considered the capital of art. Many artists have been born here and more continue to emerge. 

Numerous individuals have chosen Pokhara as their base and are actively doing their artistic pursuits. 

Particularly, many are drawn to the stage, eager to showcase their talents in theatre.

The formal beginning of theatre in Pokhara can be traced back to 1895, when Bada Hakim Dhan Shumsher staged a play at his palace in Mohariya Tole. 

His deep concern and interest in drama laid the foundation of theatre in the city of lakes. 

Today, Pokhara Theatre, which operates fully, has been catering to the artistic appetite of locals with regular performances.

According to Pokhara Theatre Chairman Paribartan Karki, regular plays began to be staged eight years ago with the construction of a dedicated theatre hall. 

“The glory that Pokhara’s theatre once had is now witnessing a revival, and there are possibilities for further growth,” he said. “Because of tourism, Pokhara is a hub of movement, and this creates potential for theatre as well.”

The lack of a good and well-managed hall had been a concern not only for theatre practitioners but also for audience.

 However, the establishment and operation of Pokhara Theatre has addressed this gap, leading to increased enthusiasm among locals to watch plays. 

The theatre has also been organising national and international drama festivals to establish Pokhara as an international center for cultural and theatrical tourism, he added.

Actor Maotse Gurung believes that with the staging of plays, Pokhara’s theatre has gained momentum. However, he emphasised that theatre alone cannot progress just through infrastructure and performances.

 He stressed the need for more quality production and better management. 

“Just staging a play doesn’t mean the beginning of true theatre,” he said.

 “To attract audiences consistently, we must present quality plays. Without high-standard performances, no matter how many plays are shown, we cannot make significant progress.”

Artist Prakash Ghimire is also encouraged by the revival of Pokhara’s theatre. 

With one play being staged after another, he sees growing potential for professional theatre. He said that even though Pokhara has been hosting plays of international standards and with support from the capital, it’s time for locals to reflect on what kind of original theatre they want to create.

“There were efforts in the past too, but they could not succeed. Now the time has come,” he said. “It’s time for theatre halls to run regularly here. The need for a well-organised theatre space is gradually being fulfilled.”

The 1970s to 1980s were considered a golden era for theatre in Pokhara. More than 10 theatre groups were formed during that time. 

As theatre gained momentum, the ‘People’s War’ began, making it difficult to preserve the legacy of drama. After that, the number of organisations involved in theatre activities dropped sharply and some even disappeared.

 The influence of theatre in Pokhara began to decline following the start of the conflict. But now it is in a rival stage.