Theatres reopen after Gen Z protest

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 19: After cinema theatres reopened, drama theatres also resumed operations, which had been halted due to the Gen-Z-led anti-corruption protest beginning on September 8.

The plays ‘Sirumarani’ and ‘Kaali Paar’, one-act historical plays, resumed staging from Wednesday.  ‘Kaali Paar’ will run until this coming Saturday, while ‘Sirumarani’ will continue until Sunday. ‘Sirumarani’ is being staged at Mandala Theatre, and ‘Kaali Paar’ at Kaushi Theatre. Written by Sarubhakta, ‘Sirumarani’ portrays the story of a rebellious woman. Sirumarani tells the story of a woman who struggles to secure her womanhood in her relationship and responsibilities. The play is written in a folklore style based on the western part of Nepal and carries different love stories as its base. Twenty-three students from Mandala’s Lab-17 have acted in the play, which is directed by Anup Neupane and Sumitra Pehim.

The production features performances by Sayujya Bhandari, Chandani Shrestha, Sushmita Shrestha, Sahishma Khadka, Sujan Ghimire, Amrit Sunar, among others, with a total of 33 trainees involved.

Similarly, the historical play Kaali Paar attempts to depict the wars, politics, and social settings of fragmented hill states during the 15th century. 

Actors Sagar Dahal, Rishikesh Basyal, Kabir Kafka, Ayushma Magar, Niraj Panthi, Mukund Khalapatra, Ashish Kafle, Dilraj Rai, and Sarad Bhandari, among 20 artists, perform in the play. Produced by Patra Manjusha in collaboration with Katha Ghera, the play is jointly directed by Muktiprasad Paudel and Prabin Paudel.

Meanwhile, Shilpee Theatre postponed its much-anticipated  ‘Shilpee Natya Yatra,’ citing the critical situation and safety concerns across the country due to the protest. The theatre group had planned to stage the play ‘Lost and Found’ in Bharatpur, Pokhara, Butwal, and Kohalpur, but they have yet to announce the new dates for the theatre journey.

Likewise, the Nepal Art and Culture Festival, jointly organised by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) and the Nepal Art Council (NAC) in collaboration with all four metropolitan cities of the Kathmandu Valley, has also reopened.