Mumbai Theatre Festival 2007

The Mumbai Theatre Festival…Begins 15th January 2007…

The Mumbai Theatre Festival which began in 2006 is back with its second edition. The festival while aiming to celebrate the theatre culture in the city, also hopes to create in the long run, a long-lasting relationship between various theatre groups, performance venues and audiences. Currently it is being played out at a single venue and its focus this year is to bring together a host of performances that reveal a contemporary ethos. Ramu Ramanathan’s COTTON 56, POLYESTER 84 (Hindi) and Javed Siddiqui’s KACHCHE LAMHE (Hindi) are representative of the same.

Trends in Marathi Youth Theatre are also being given attention to in this festival. A number of Marathi plays by young people such as the critically well-received LOSE CONTROL feature in the festival. Select plays for children such as Awishkar- Chandrashala’s production of PANCHATANTRA (Marathi) are part of the festival too.

Other highlights of this festival include performances by theatre companies from Australia. The details of these performances can be found alongside the schedule of the festival.

Venue: PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy, Near Siddhivinayak Mandir, Sayani Road, Prabhadevi Tel: 022 2431-2956.

Please Note: Shows are at the Ravindra Natya Mandir, the Mini Theatre, and outside (Podium) Shows marked in red are for children. The schedule is subject to change; please check daily listings For more information contact Omkar Rane: 9833416004

Date Time Ravindra Natya Duration Group Writer & Director Mandir Mon., 15th Jan 7.30 pm Loose Control (M) 2hr 15m Atharv Hemant Dhome(W) & Nipun -Chandravalay Dharmadhikari(D) Tues., 16th Jan 7.30 pm Ga-Ma-Bha-Na (M) 2hr 15m Eclat infotainmant Hemant Mahajan(W) & Santosh Verulkar(D) Wed., 17th Jan 7.30 pm # Aayushyaman(M) 45m Ruia Collage Rajesh Shinde (W) (No interval) Pratap Phad ( D) # Panchakam (M) 40m SNDT Women’s Vinayak Divekar (W) & (No interval) University Mumbai Sachin Mote (D) Thurs, 18th Jan 7.30 pm # Mrigacha Paus (M) 40m D.J.Ruparel Collage Iravati Karnik(W) & (No interval) Adwait Dadarkar(D) # Pa Mhanaje 55m MMCC, Pune Harshad Ukhande (W) & Pathantar (M) (No interval) Adwait Kulkarni(D)

Fri., 19thJan 7.30 pm Windmill Baby (English) 1hr 15m Yirra Yaakin David Milroy (W &D) from Australia (No interval) Sat., 20th Jan 4.00 pm Windmill Baby (English) 1hr 15m Yirra Yaakin David Milroy (W &D) & from Australia) (No interval) 7.30pm

Sun., 21st Jan 11 am Panchatantra (M) 1hr 35m Avishkar - MadhavSakhardande (W) & Chandrashala Ramash Purav (D) 4.30 pm Balakadu (M) 2hr 25m Suyog - Soham Irawati Karnik (W) & Adwait Dadarka r(D) 7.30 pm Sonapankhi (M) 2hr 45m Chandralekha Pr. La. Mayekar (W) & Dilip Kolhatkar(D)

Mon., 22nd Jan 7.30 pm Palakhi (M) 1hr 30m Chaurang & Mithak D.B.Mokashi(W )& Adwait Dadarkar(D) Tues., 23th Jan 7.30 pm Eka Bheetichi Goshta 30m M.L.Dahanukar Sameer Chaughule(W) & (M) Collage Of Vishwas Sohani(D) Kathawarun (M) 45m Commerce Jagruti Dashmukh (W) & (D) Maharastra cultureral centre, PUNE Wed., 24th Jan 11am Once Upon A Tiger (E) 1hr 45m Working Title Jaimini Pathak (W) &(D) For Children 7.30 pm Vedha Pashya (M) 1hr 35m Academy of Theatre Machahindra More (No interval) Arts Mumbai (adaptation) University Waman Kendre (D) Thurs., 25th 7.30 pm # Countdown (M) 40m Creative theatre, Ambar Hadap (W) & Jan Amravati Nikhil Khajindar (D)

# For Time Being (M) 55m Marathawada Abishak dave(W) & Mitramandal, Pune Janhavi pathak (D) Fri., 26th Jan 4.30 pm Manomilan (M) 2hr 20min Jigisha Creations Kiran Yagnopavit (W) & (D) & 7.30 pm

Sat., 27th Jan 4.00 pm Cotton 56 Polyester 84 1hr 25min Theatre Arpana Ramu Ramanathan (W), & (H) (No interval) Chetan datar (translation) & 7.30pm Sunil Shanbag (D) Sun., 28th Jan 11 am Agar Ya Magar (H) 50 min IPTA Balmanch, Salim Arif (W) Gulzar (W) (No interval) Mumbai 4.30 pm Kachche Lamhe (H) 1hr 40 min Essay Javed SiddiqiI (W)& Salim & (No interval) Communications, Arif(D) 7.30 pm Mumbai

Date Time Mini theatre Duration Of Group Name Writer & Director Play Friday, 4.30 pm Alvida (M) 19th Jan & 7.30 pm Sat., 20th 4.30 pm Yaari Hai 2hrs: 15m Awishkar Chetan Datar (W) Jan & Imaan (H) & 7.30 pm Kapil Bhopatkar(D)

Sun., 21st 4.30 pm Jaata Nahi 2hrs: 15m Awishkar Siddharth Tambe Jan & Jath (W) & 7.30 pm Girish Pakate (D)

Fri., 26th 4.30 pm Bali Aur 2hrs Aranya Manav Kaul Jan & Shambhu (H) (W & D) 7.30 pm Sat., 27th 4.30 pm Ends & 1hr: 10m Shoestring Based on Samuel Jan & Beginnings (No interval) Theatre Becket’s End 7:30pm (E) Game, Vivek.V. Narayan (D)

Sun., 28th 4.30 pm The Dumb Jan & Waiter (E) 7:30pm + Ho Sakta Hai 75m Padatik Vinay Sharma (W Do Aadmi (no interval) & D) Do Kursiyaar (H)

Date Time Podium (P.L. Deshpande outdoor) Mon., 15th Jan Dislocate’s 6:30pm 3 Speed Crunch Box (from Australia) Tues., 16th Jan Dislocate’s 5:00pm Growing Up 6:30pm 3 Speed Crunch Box Wed., 17th Jan Dislocate’s 5:00pm Growing Up 6:30pm 3 Speed Crunch Box Thurs., 18th Jan 6:30pm Kukuch Ku (M)

Friday, 19th Jan 6:30pm Guldasta Sat., 20th Jan 6:30pm Doonooch Dancers (Australian Indigenous Dance Performance) Mon., 22nd Jan 6.30 pm Povada by Suresh Jadhav (M) & 7.30 pm Tues., 23rd Jan 6.30 pm Aas Pass (M) & 7.30 pm Wed., 24th Jan 6.30 pm Ek Tamasha Sindura (M) & 7.30pm Thurs., 25th Jan Fri., 26th Jan 6.30 pm Women’s Play & 7.30pm Sat., 27th Jan 6.30 pm Songi Bharud (M) & 7.30pm

Mumbai Festival 2007 International Program featuring Companies and Performances from Australia * please check final listings

Strange Fruit http://www.strangefruit.net.au/repertoire/

THE SPHERES (20 min) - Gateway of India, Jan 14th as a part of the Inaugural at 7.00 pm Creation, exultation, liberation, life, the universe and everything. The Spheres take a whimsical look at physics, the miracle of birth and humanity's existential relationship to our planet. Giant, illuminated orbs of luminous beauty contain characters that gradually emerge to stand and rise above their spheres of existence. This piece is beautiful, reverent and sublime.

THE FIELD (45 min) - Gateway of India, Jan 15th and 16th at 6.30 pm Eight characters enact an intriguing ritual of courtship and discovery, breaking hearts and bending poles to impossible angles. The message of love, freedom, loneliness and joy are played out and take the audience on a journey of beauty and laughter

After Mumbai, Strange Fruit performs The Field in New Delhi.

Strange Fruit is a Melbourne-based performing arts company that produces and performs a remarkable style of work that fuses theatre, dance and circus, using a unique elevated medium.

Perched atop 4 metre high flexible poles of original design, the troupe delivers a sublime performance, bending and swaying in the air, captivating and engaging the audience in absolute fascination. Originally based on the image of a field of wheat swaying in the breeze, the poles' extreme strength and flexibility allow the performer to bow to impossible angles, swaying back and forth in a hypnotising dance as the audience looks up in wonder.

With a world-renowned repertoire that celebrates a wide variety of themes and stories, the company has achieved near-cult status in almost every continent across the globe. Performing regularly at festivals, special events and private functions, their sublime, hypnotic beauty is truly remarkable and must be experienced to appreciate its full effect.

Dislocate http://www.dislocate.net/

3 SPEED CRUNCH BOX - P.L.Despande Complex (Podium) Jan 15th, 16th, 17th at 6.30 pm 3 SPEED CRUNCH BOX (stunted development) is a fast-paced, highly humorous, frantic, ground based street theatre act about a ridiculous family of absurd stuntpeople. Amidst incredible acrobatics and daringly stupid feats they desperately try to get the big trick (or any trick for that matter) right.

GROWING UP – P.L.Despande Complex (Podium) Jan 16th, 17th at 5.00 pm Growing Up is an absurd acrobatic aerial comedy complete with a birth, tentative first steps, the joys of childhood and the inevitable loss of youth and innocence. Played out on an eight metre rig, incorporating tissue and counterweight bungy, Growing Up is a visual aerial comedy designed for children and families.

After Mumbai, Dislocate will perform at the Jaipur Festival

Dislocate was born out of the desire to combine the exciting form of circus with the intricacies of language and the humanity of theatre. The company has attracted some of Australia's best artistic and technical personnel to collaborate on projects.

Dislocate's success to date has been phenomenal. On the street, in theatres and in the air, Dislocate has spellbound their audiences and inspired their peers. From international theatre festivals to local product launches, Dislocate has consistently produced high quality circus based entertainment for audiences as small as 50 and as large as fifty thousand. Australian Art Orchestra (AAO) http://www.aao.com.au/programs/into_the_fire/

In collaboration with Karaikudi R. Mani and Shruti Laya Ensemble, Chennai http://www.karaikudirmani.com/aboutmani.asp

INTO THE FIRE – IMS VIKRANT Jan 24th at 6.30 pm (For invitees only) and at the Gateway of India Jan 25th at 6.30 pm

The AAO is Australia’s premier contemporary music ensemble. It was designed to break down the barriers between jazz and classical music, between improvised and composed music, even those between western and non-western music, for the benefit of listeners and practitioners alike. A set of the Orchestra will collaborate with their Indian partners to present a stunning blend of music that encompassed both Eastern and Western musical traditions.

Artistic Director of the AAO, Paul Grabowsky, was recently voted Australian Jazz Artist of the Year at the 2006 Australian Jazz Awards.

After Mumbai, AAO proceeds to do concerts in Hyderabad, Kolkata and Bangalore. The AAO are based in Melbourne. Yirra Yaakin http://www.yirrayaakin.asn.au/

WINDMILL BABY – Ravindra Natya Mandir Jan 19th 7.30 pm, Jan 20th 4.00 pm and 7.30 pm Against the Kimberley landscape of red dirt and azure blue skies, Aboriginal woman Maymay Starr returns to an abandoned cattle station to tell the story of a life lived beneath the flickering presence of the station windmill – an all-seeing witness to tales of humour, violence, lust, love and loss. Windmill Baby is the new calling card of Indigenous theatre, told with the poetry of a campfire storyteller and the comedy of a great yarn.

'This play is one of those rare gems – a mature, well-formed script with hidden depths, given a theatrical outing after the necessary work has been done.' Victoria Laurie, The Australian.

Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre [Yir-raarh Yaarh-kin Noong-aarh] is Australia’s leading Aboriginal theatre experience. More than a theatre company, Yirra Yaakin is the response to the Aboriginal Community’s need for positive self-enhancement through artistic expression.

Established in 1993 and based in Perth, Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre Aboriginal Corporation opened its doors with one successful funding application and three staff members. As the company grew, so did the commitment towards developing Aboriginal people in all aspects of theatre. A decade later, Yirra Yaakin Noongar Theatre is both a world-class theatre company and a leader in community development. Doonooch Dancers *At Maharashtra Mazha - Jan 19th at 6.00 pm At P.L.Deshpande (Podium), Jan 20th 4.00 pm and 7.30 pm *At the closing of Nrityotsav, Bandra Land’s End Amphitheatre, Jan 21st

Doonooch refers to an “owl dreaming” and the Doonooch Dance Company showcase unique performances, which combine traditional and aboriginal dance. The group has toured nationally throughout Australia and internationally to many countries. In 2000 the Doonooch Dancers were part of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony and were feature performers at the World Indigenous Forum in Noumea. The company was founded in 1991 by singer-songwriter and traditional lore keeper Robert McLeod (Monaro and Tomakin/ Wandandian) who initially established programs for Aboriginal men and youth, which recognised culture as the touchstone of Indigenous well being.

“The basis of healing and learning is through the spirit of belonging and self-respect. As an Aborigine, this means participation in the birthing and restoration of our entire cultural heritage through the origin lore of the Mother.” (Doonooch Lore Keeper)

Doonooch Dancers - The Doonooch Dancers’ performance is electrifying, almost energizing, any person who watches their ceremony is compelled by the passion and fire. Doonooch take their culture very seriously and they perform on a professional level.

Doonooch has also starred in 2002 & 2003 at the Sydney Dreaming festivals at Olympic Park.

*The above information is courtesy the Mumbai Festival Committee. Mumbai Theatre Guide takes no responsibility for change in schedule.