Play brings Irish actress Norah Richard’s life on stage

Tribune News service

Amritsar, July 30

A play based on celebrated Norah Richards, also called great grandmother of Indian theatre, was staged at Punjab Naasthala here today.

Celebrating the artistic and creative genius, who was born as Irish, but gave India her first Punjabi play ‘Dulhan’ in 1914. The play highlighted her journey back in Ireland and development of theatre under her guidance in India.

Punjabi play ‘Norah’ was directed by Kewal Dhaliwal, who is known for his penchant for history and re-inventing the glorious past for future generations on the stage.

The play will be enacted on Sunday and at the weekend theatre programme by Naatshala. ‘Norah’ has been staged widely across festival circuit in Punjab and Delhi. It has been received with a critical acclaim.

Norah Richards was an Irish actress, who first arrived in India in 1911. She was passionately involved in cultural activities in Punjab. She dedicated 60 years of her life here, encouraging theatre development and also grooming artistes and writers like Ishwar Chand Nanda and Balwant Gargi, who are today known as one of the stalwarts of Indian theatre.

“The play ‘Norah’ gives glimpses of her life in Punjab, besides her involvement with some of the greatest social movements at the time like Brahmo Samaj and setting up one of the first theatre schools in Punjab,” said Dhaliwal.