Correspondent
IMPHAL, JANUARY 18
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he 3rd Khundongbam Brojendro Theatre Festival got underway this afternoon at the newly opened Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium in Palace Compound, Imphal.
The 10-day festival, held under the theme ‘Theatre for Peace and Friendship’, is being organised by Khundongbam Brojendro Cultural Trust (KBC Trust) in collaboration with Department of Art and Culture, government of Manipur.
The inaugural function was graced by State’s education Minister, Moirangthem Okendro and Art & Culture Commissioner Dr. RK Nimai as the chief guest and functional president. Yaiskul MLA Elangbam Chand also attended the inaugural function among others.In his address, Minister Okendro said that holding of such kind of festival is timely. “Let’s join hands to promote the theatre movements in the region,” he added.
Also speaking at the occasion, Dr Nimai expressed the need to re-establish the dying art forms of the state including theatre movement and drama.
“The participation of the Myanmar theatre team in the festival will certainly give a new taste to the theatre activists of the state,” Dr Nimai said.
Eight Theatre groups including artistes from Myanmar and Bangalore will participate in the 10-day festival.
The first day of the festival witnessed the performance of Rupmahal Theatre’s ‘Bor Interview’.
According Chabungbam Sarat of the KBC Trust, the first festival was organised as Drama festival in 2008 followed by second in 2011.
The noted playwright Khundongbam Brojendro had so far written 64 plays, 15 radio dramas, 8 shumang leela plays and even released four audio cassettes during his tenure.
The important social issues of the region were reflected in most of his plays and dramas. Unlike the past, besides theatre groups from Myanmar and Bangalore, one play each from Tangkhul and Kabui theatre groups will also be performing in the 10-day festival.
Apart from the cultural programme in the outdoor stage, Theatre and Post Show talk will be the salient feature of the ongoing festival.
The festival which will conclude on January 28 will require no ticket or entry fee for any shows.
