The stage is set

The Sanskar Bharti in collaboration with the North-Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC)-Patiala, NCZCC Allahabad and Chandigarh Sangeet Natak Akdemi, is organizing a seven-day drama festival starting from Monday. 

The plays are being staged at the newly renovated Navrang Theatre at Bal Bhavan, Sector 23, which will be inaugurated on day one of the festival. The inaugural play was Ek Tha Yug Purush Baba Saheb Ambedkar which was presented by Samvaad Theatre Group from Chandigarh. The fest has much to offer— 

December 12: Solah Sanskar

Directed by Manoj Mishra, Solah Sanskar is a salutation to the rich Indian culture. The play depicts the life circle of solaha sanskaar (sixteen rites) from garbhadan (conception) to antyeshti (burial) and punarjanam (reincarnation or rebirth).

December 13: 

Chicago Mein Swami

The play presents glimpses from the visit of Swami Vivekananda and his historic speech at the Parliament of World’s Religion as an Indian delegate at Chicago in 1893. It is directed by Rohit Tripathi.

December 14: Shyampat 

Based on the epic Mahabharata, the play directed by Yogesh Soman offers an experimental presumption that the divine author Rishi Ved Vyas loses control over his characters and storyline gets disturbed. 

December 15: 

Harishchhanar ki Ladai

Directed by Urmil Kumar Thapaliyal, the play has two parallel stories. After years of performing the role of Raja Harishchandra in nautankis, the protagonist imbibes the characteristics of the Raja Harishchandra in real life and speaks and practices the truth.

December16: 

The White Saree 

The play, designed and directed by Amit Tiwari,  takes one to Vrindavan where a symbol of loneliness, a widow ashram is placed. 

December 17: 

Samrat Ashoka

Written by DP Sinha and directed by Dr Chittranjan Tripathi, the play is a psycho-political thriller depicting the story of great emperor Ashoka. The historical play concludes the week-long festival. 

6 pm onwards — Theatre, Sector 23

SD Sharma