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Theatre, music and comedy — all at one fest
It’s once again time for theatre, music and comedy. Come December 12 and performing art lovers will get to see fiveday 10th edition of Repertwahr Festival. To be held at UP Sangeet Natak Akademi, it will have five plays, two comedy acts and three independent music performances.
The event will open with Mohit Takalar’s play ‘Mosambi Narangi’ which is set in Varanasi in Hindi and Bhojpuri. After the play, rock band Indian Ocean will perform.
The second day will have play ‘Aurat Aurat Aurat’ written by Ismat Chughtai and directed by Naseeruddin Shah with actor Seema Pahwa in lead cast. In the evening, Aisi Taisi Democracy group will perform with prolific Varun Grover, Rahul Ram and Sanjay Rajoura.
“Ten years back when we conceptualised this and held our first ticketed show, we barely had 50 people in the audience. But, the very next day legendary Habib Tanvir’s play ‘Charandas Chor’ went houseful. So, it has been the audience only which has given us confidence of bringing good content. Adult play ‘Vagina Monologue’ got banned but audience made us bring it the very next year and it had a packed house,” said its founder Bhoopesh Rai.
The third day will have Faezeh Jalali playing ‘Bone of Contention’. The day will also have musical performance by Hindi rock band ‘The Local Train’. On fourth day, Habib Tanvir’s play ‘Agra Bazaar’ will be staged which is based on poems and has a team of 54 people. Stand-up artiste Aditi Mittal will give a performance on that day.
Nimmy Raphel’s play ‘Bali’ will be staged on the concluding day and it will be curtains for the festival with musical performance by Parvaaz.
“Every play will have two shows at 3 pm and 7.30 pm. This time, we have spaced out music and comedy acts as we felt it was dividing the audience. So, we have two comedy and three music performances spread into five days. We have tried to bring in the best of theatre and other performing arts and hope our audience like it,” added Rai.
Every day, a 12 noon, the ‘Meet the Cast’ event will be held for the public at the venue.