Theatre festival in Shivamogga from April 14

Rangayana is gearing up to host the Vishwamanava International Theatre Festival-2018, a seven-day theatre festival, at Suvarna Samskruti Bhavan here from April 14 to 20.

M. Ganesh, director of Rangayana, Shivamogga, told presspersons on Thursday that the objective of the fest was to promote the Vishwamanava tatwa, the ideology of universal humanism advocated by Jnanpith awardee Kuvempu. A multilingual theatre fest, solo theatre performances from transgender persons and women, and a cinema festival for children will be held, he said.

The event will be inaugurated by theatre activist Sabitri Heisnam at 6 p.m. on Saturday. The plays to be staged are: ‘Aashadada Ondu Dina’ (April 14, Kannada, Rangayana Repertoire theatre troupe); ‘Trans Nation’ (April 15, Kannada, Rangayana Repertoire); ‘Karnabharam’ (April 16, Malayalam, Lokadharmi theatre troupe); ‘Manteswamy Kathaprasanga’ (April 17, Kannada, Kalamythri Samskrutika Vedike troupe); ‘Kurukshetra’ (April 18, Kannada, Satyashodhana Rangasamudaya and Janamanadata theatre troupes); ‘When The Dead Awaken’ (April 19, English, International Theatre Institute, Singapore); and ‘Ekalavya’ (April 20, Kannada, Ekalavya Samskrutika Kala Thanda). The show will commence at 7.15 p.m. on all the seven days.

There will also be solo theatre performances by transgenders and women: ‘Body Memory’, a Manipuri play enacted by Sabitri Heisnam (April 14, 11.30 a.m.); ‘Gudinolagondu Hakki’, a Kannada play enacted by Vidya Hegde (April 14, 3 p.m.); ‘Uriya Uyyale’ by Chaitra K. (April 15, Kannada, 11.30 a.m.); ‘Sanchari’ by Rumi Harish (April 15, Kannada, 3 p.m.); ‘Urmile’ by Prathibha M.V. (April 16, Kannada, 11.30 a.m.); ‘Notes on Chai’ by Jyoti Dogra (April 16, English, 3 p.m.); ‘Mythili’ by Supriya Rao (April 17, Kannada, 11.30 a.m.); ‘Kastura Ba’ by Shashikala (April 17, Kannada, 3 p.m.); ‘Sithantharala’ by Manjula Badami (April 18, Kannada, 11.30 a.m.); ‘Shakunthaleyondige Ondu Aparahna’ by Bhagirathi Bai Kadam (April 18, Kannada, 3 p.m.); ‘Obbalu’ by Akshatha Pandavapura (April 19, Kannada, 11 a.m.); ‘Saraswathi Bai Rajawade’ by Susheela Kelamane (April 20, Kannada, 11.30 a.m.); and ‘Marubhoomiyallondu Minchu’ by Rajani Garuda (April 20, Kannada, 3 p.m.).