Acts sans starts and ends, mysterious mimes and sexy scenography

Characterise the Delhi Ibsen festival which explores the popular playwright at his enigmatic bestIf youve studied literature youd know why Henrik Ibsen is an institution in himself If you havent heres a festival thatd introduce you to the guru of modern drama Ibsens theatrical thoughts transcended those of his time and explored subjects related tou00a0 human nature and the female form in a paradoxical romanticreal wayu00a0 With women invariably forming the crux of most of his plays Ibsens work has always been open for discussion even decades after it was written A new wave of directors takes cue from the charisma of his characters and come up with adaptations relevant to todays world A still from Hedda GablerDrowningNoras DoorsUrban urgeThe Delhi Ibsen festival 2009 highlights the work of a younger generation of urbanised Indian theatre directors selected for their modern new and pathbreaking approaches to theatre The International productions emphasise intercultural challenges in presenting Ibsens radical ideas in diverse societies For us it was very important that Ibsens work connected to the Indian audience The legend has been done time and again what makes it different this time is that all his works are subtly stark as observed closely in the participant directors own versions says Dr Nissar Allana festival director THE GUIDE gets you the detailed dopeWiki wisdom on IbsenHenrik Ibsen was a major 19th century Norwegian playwright theatre director and poet He is often referred to as the godfather of modern drama and is one of the founders of Modernism in theatre His plays were considered scandalous to many of his era when Victorian values of family life and propriety largely held sway in Europe Ibsens work examined the realities that lay behind many facades possessing a revelatory nature that was disquieting to many contemporaries It utilised a critical eye and free inquiry into the conditions of life and issues of morality Ibsen is often ranked as one of the truly great playwrights in the European tradition alongside ShakespeareDelhi Ibsen festivalOn till December 14Where Different venues across cityRing 9810166643At 7 pmPasses available at Kamani auditorium Copernicus MargCutnkeep scheduleTodayThe CommunicatorDirected by Kamaluddin NiluIt is a play without a beginning or an end There is no solution or conclusion It is a play about ideas one that challenges the thoughts and experiences of the spectatorsToday and tomorrowNoras DoorsDirected by Nora AminWhere LTG Auditorium Mandi HouseThis is an attempt to present the female image at the crossroads of change of the past and the present the personal and social the self and the other The performance is weaved in a spiral structure movement and dance is a strong component of the work as well as mime and scenography The play keeps the basic story of Ibsen and yet transforms it into the crosscultural realities of todays worldTomorrow and December 10DrowningDirected by Mirjam KoenWhere Kamani AuditoriumThere are no general ideals anymore it is on a much more individual level that we have to search for what we believe inIn Drowning the characters are not only confronted with the tragedy of the little boy that drowns but the incident also serves as a catalyst for the inner motives of the charactersDecember 10 and 11The Devils ShipDirected by Attila PessyaniWhere LTG AuditoriumThe play proceeds through a mixture of simple direct dialogue tremendously powerful gesture and occasional haunting acts of cinematic flickering light over the faces of the women This single sombre elegant brushstroke of a show makes its point slowly but with absolute clarityDecember 11 and 12Hedda GablerDirected by Zhan MinWhere Kamani AuditoriumA beauty with brain Haida attended her fathers private school along with promising young men where she and Wenbo a freespirited genius were romantically involved Her fathers untimely death forced Haida to marry Simeng for financial security Haida now filled with regret and frustration is determined to realise her own dream by changing the destiny of these two men Yue Opera is particularly strong in its lyrical touchDecember 12 and 13Pillars of the CommunityDirected by Neeraj KabiWhere LTG AuditoriumAt the heart of this play are the ideals of truth and freedom It uses secrets and intrigue guilt and love and the inevitable consequences of the past on the present to carry its story forward