NITFest concludes

Kathmandu, Dec. 3

The 2^nd Nepal International Theater Festival 2079 (NITFest 2022) concluded on Saturday.

In the event, which started with the slogan 'Theatre for Social Transformation: A Celebration of Diversity' on November 25, 18 plays from 12 countries were staged. Various workshops, interactions, and masterclasses were also organised during the festival.

On the concluding day, a panel discussion on 'Different Dimensions of Stage Acting and Film Acting' was organised where Khagendra Lamichhane, film director and artiste, interacted with artistes Dayahang Rai, Suraksha Pant, Meen Bham, among others.

Another attraction of Saturday was the premier of 'Kubhindoko Katha', a play by Mandala Theatre, organiser of the festival. Pranish Magar has written the play based on a folk tale prepared during a playwriting workshop conducted by Mandala. It was directed by Dayahang Rai with co-direction by Vikas Joshi and choreography by Pramila Khanal.

Minister of Finance, Janardhan Sharma, Vice-Chancellor of Nepal Music and Drama Academy Harihar Sharma, Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Balendra Shah, Deputy mayor of Budhanilkantha Municipality, Anita Lama, and directors and artistes from different countries participated in the closing ceremony.

Earlier on Friday, the eighth day of the festival, India's drama ‘Blackboard Land’ and ‘Nomad’, a play from Argentina, were staged.

Directed by Rajesh Singh, ‘Blackboard Land’ told the story of three people who met in a secluded place during the war. As the story progresses, differences between them lead to conflict and eventually to physical violence.

Similarly, the Argentinian drama ‘Nomad’, directed by Constanza Bitthoff, in musical and physical style presented the campaign of social change.

On the same day, a panel discussion was held under the title 'Why is theater review necessary?' Suraj Subedi interacted with writer, reviewer Dhruvasatya, actors Namrata KC and Kedar Shrestha. There was an interaction on the need for theater review, its impact and the current review procedure. 

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 4 December 2022.