Acts sans starts and ends, mysterious mimes and sexy scenography

Characterise the Delhi Ibsen festival, which explores the popular playwright at his enigmatic best

Characterise the Delhi Ibsen festival, which explores the popular playwright at his enigmatic best

If you've studied literature, you'd know why Henrik Ibsen is an institution in himself. If you haven't, here's a festival that'd introduce you to the guru of modern drama. Ibsen's theatrical thoughts transcended those of his time, and explored subjects related tou00a0 human nature and the female form in a paradoxical romantic-real way.u00a0

With women invariably forming the crux of most of his plays, Ibsen's 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 today's world.

A still from Hedda Gabler

Drowning

Nora's Doors

Urban urge

The Delhi Ibsen festival 2009 highlights the work of a younger generation of urbanised Indian theatre directors, selected for their modern, new and path-breaking approaches to theatre. The International productions emphasise inter-cultural challenges in presenting Ibsen's radical ideas in diverse societies. "For us, it was very important that Ibsen's 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 dope.

Wiki wisdom on Ibsen

Henrik 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. Ibsen's 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 Shakespeare.

Delhi Ibsen festival
On till: December 14
Where: Different venues across city
Ring: 9810166643
At: 7 pm
Passes available at: Kamani auditorium, Copernicus Marg

Cut-n-keep schedule

Today

The Communicator
Directed by Kamaluddin Nilu
It 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 spectators.

Today and tomorrow

Nora's Doors
Directed by Nora Amin
Where: LTG Auditorium, Mandi House
This 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 cross-cultural realities of today's world

Tomorrow and December 10

Drowning
Directed by Mirjam Koen
Where: Kamani Auditorium
There are no general ideals anymore; it is on a much more individual level that we have to search for what we believe in.
In 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 characters.

December 10 and 11

The Devil's Ship
Directed by Attila Pessyani
Where: LTG Auditorium
The 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 brush-stroke of a show makes its point slowly but with absolute clarity.

December 11 and 12

Hedda Gabler
Directed by Zhan Min
Where: Kamani Auditorium
A beauty with brain, Haida attended her father's private school along with promising young men, where she and Wenbo, a free-spirited genius, were romantically involved. Her father's 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 touch.

December 12 and 13

Pillars of the Community
Directed by Neeraj Kabi
Where: LTG Auditorium
At 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.