After two years, the curtain will go up at Venjaramoodu-based Rangaprabhath with the staging of Veendum Bhagavante Maranam on March 27, observed as World Theatre Day.
The much-feted play, an adaptation of K.R. Meera’s story by Thiruvananthapuram-based theatre group Kanal Samskarika Vedi, marks the beginning of live performances for both Rangaprabhath and Kanal.
“As a result of the pandemic and lockdowns, theatre was in the doldrums. While there were some online programmes, nothing can beat the excitement of a stage performance before a live audience,” says Hazim Amaravila, director of the play.
Theatre festival
K.S. Geetha, artistic director of Rangaprabhath, says that V eendum Bhagavante Maranam will be followed by a week-long theatre festival in April involving theatre groups from different parts of the State.
She says: “It is important for theatre groups to join hands and work together for the good of theatre and those who work in it. COVID-19 had isolated all of us for two years.”
Veendum Bhagavante Maranam will be staged at Kannur (April 4), Thrikarippur (April 16) and Pathanamthitta (April 29).
In the meantime, Kanal theatre professionals are busy with rehearsals of their new play Soviet Station Kadavu, which will be premiered at Neeravil Prakash Kala Kendram, Kollam, on April 7. It will also be staged at Rangaprabhath on April 12.
“An adaptation of Murali Krishnan’s eponymous short story, the play transcends time and space. It is perhaps the first play in Kerala involving a time machine. The premise is that the USSR suffered a blow because of the Second World War. To prevent that, an assassin from 2022 goes back in time to assassinate Hitler. This youngster is from Station Kadavu, near Thumba,” narrates Hazim.
Soviet Station Kadavu is being brought to the stage with the help of a grant from Kerala Sangeeta Nataka Akademi. “Twenty-five plays will be performed all over Kerala, all with the help of a grant of ₹2 lakh from the Akademi. The initiative has already started in Kasaragod and will travel to all districts in the State,” explains Hazim.
The plays are open to the public.
