All Plays

Name of play : CLAN MACBETH

Name  of  the theater Group: Teatro delle Ombre, Roma, Italy.

Name of the play-writer:  William Shakespeare.

Name of the director: Daniele Scattina.

Cast: Daniele Scattina (Macbeth),Marzia Tedeschi: (Lady Macbeth) Domenico Astone: (Joker)

Assistant director:  Chiara Cottini

Duration of the play:60 minutes.

Summary:

The decision to put on stage Macbeth, recalled Clan Macbeth, and to reduce it into just three characters(Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and the Joker)stems from our belief that there is an increasing need in the actor’s work to be focused in the synthesis without losing the atmosphere of the biggest epics . The three characters find a new space than the classical one, they are centralized but decentralized in a space that becomes a non-place and a no-time. This Joker”jester”,spooky and burlesque becomes the crucial link to access the facts and the various characters who revolve around the murdering couple.

Biographies of the three actors:

MARZIA TEDESCHI (Role : Lady Macbeth and artistic manager of the play)

is an Italian actress. She studied Theatre at La Sapienza university,Italy and Theatre and performing arts at Plymouth university, UK. She attended acting classes and schools in Rome, Milan and New York. She shaved her head for the role of Sallafa in the movie Al Khubz al Hafi ( Il pane nudo).For her performance,she was awarded as ‘Best Actress’ in San Francisco,Rotterdam and Milan.She moved to Berlin 2013, because she got an Italian role in a new German tv series. She played the role of Giovanna in the last movie of David Wnendt  “Sonne und Beton”,the movie had its premiere at the Berlinale 2023. She was awarded for this movie at the Deutscherschauspielpreis.She is on Amazon Prime (UK,USA,Germany,Austria and Switzerland) with the movie”Tarantella- God forgives, mafia won’t”.She keeps playing in international theatre festivals the play Clan Macbeth.She was awarded for her role of Lady Macbeth at the Tangier international theatre festival,Morocco 2018.

DANIELE SCATTINA ( Director of the play and role :Macbeth)

is an Italian actor and director, his artistic training begins with the study of acting at the Fersen school in Rome and continues at the “Mulino di Flora” laboratory also in Rome directed by Perla Peragallo. In 1992 he began his first theatrical experiences working among others with Giorgio Albertazzi, Leo de Berardinis, Luca Ronconi and  in London at the Peter Hall Company with Ben Kingsley. He attended also acting workshops with artists such as Carmelo Bene, Eugenio Allegri and Daniela Bausch.2001 he began also his career as director and artistic director of his own Company “Teatro delle Ombre” in Rome.Since 1996 he has directed several shows including “The Tempest”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Hamlet”, “Caligula” and “Macbeth” with which he has participated in various festivals around the world.

DOMENICO ASTONE (Role: Joker)

is an Italian actor, his artistic training begins at the Sistina theater acting school with Pietro Garinei in Rome and continues with acting workshop with the Amarican coach Michael Margotta.                 He made his debut in prime time television on Rai2 with Rick and Gian.                                                                   In 1996 he began his first theatrical experiences, successfully interpreting various comic and brilliant roles. He began collaborating with Daniele Scattina in 1999, who taught him Shakespearean theater and began a long association with him, never abandoning, however, even as an author, comedy and vaudeville. In 2016 he began working in the paly Clan Macbeth performing in various festivals around the world. Domenico is also a painter.

ABOUT THE GROUP

The group Teatro delle Ombre was born thanks to Daniele Scattina at the beginning of 2000. Daniele Scattina is a director and an actor, based in Rome, Italy. He has directed several shows including “The Tempest”, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Miss July”, “La neve era sporca”, “Hamlet”,  “Questo silenzio atroce”, “Rock Caligula”, and “Clan Macbeth”.

2011 Daniele Scattina met the actress Marzia Tedeschi and they started the collaboration for the play “Clan Macbeth” to be presented in many international festivals around the world, with the purpose to play this show among different cultures and sharing with many international artists the passion and the love that we all have for theatre .

Marzia Tedeschi is also the artistic Manager of the show Clan Macbeth.

The actor Domenico Astone instead entered the group only 2022, when Clan Macbeth had a new revision, with new costumes and new scenes, having its premiere at the Aact World international theatre festival in Venice, Florida, USA 2022 and presented as Honorary Performance at the Sharm el Sheikh international theatre festival of youth, in Egypt 2022. The three actors collaborated together also for the show Rock Caligula 2014, but they work also separately in different productions.

Name of the Playwright:      Nayanraj Pandey

Name of the Director:           Deeya Maskey

Name of the Group:              Actors’ Studio Nepal

Duration of the Play:            100 Min

Language of the Play:           Nepali/Awadhi

About the group

The Actors’ Studio has been offering a unique and intensive three-month training in Dramatic Arts and Acting for several years, focusing on an organic, interdisciplinary approach. This approach integrates diverse fields, with the studio consisting of professionals such as writers, musicians, artists, fashion designers, graphic artists, anthropologists, and actors, fostering a rich, collaborative environment. The core motto of the studio is to explore and expand multiculturalism in theatre, emphasizing its dynamic nature at various levels. Over the past decade and a half, the studio has been actively involved in performing plays, both locally in Nepal and internationally. Their performances extend beyond traditional stages, engaging with communities through street theatre and performances in rural villages. This inclusive approach ensures that their work reaches a broader audience while enriching the cultural landscape with innovative and diverse theatrical experiences. The Actors’ Studio remains a crucial platform for nurturing creative talent and promoting cross-cultural exchange in theatre.

Some of the critically acclaimed plays by the Actors’ Studio include Virtual Reality (BRM-2006), Talakjung Vs Tulke (BRM-2008), Kafka Ek Adhyay, Malami, Court Martial, Thangla (BRM-2017), and Conference of the Birds (BRM-2018).

Summary of the Play

Katha Kasturi is a gripping tale set in Jaipun, a village known for its snake charmers. The story follows Kasturi, the daughter of Hakka PahalMaan, the village head, and Bhola, a bodyguard to ChintaMani, a political leader. In a political deal, ChintaMani promises to provide snakes to every house in Jaipun in exchange for the village’s votes in the upcoming election. Hakka PahalMaan agrees, securing the support of the village. Amidst this, Bhola falls in love with Kasturi and plans to marry her. However, his childhood friend Dabalu reveals a shocking secret about Kasturi and her father, leading to a tense, mysterious situation. After a narrow victory by ChintaMani, the village is set on fire, and Hakka PahalMaan perishes in the blaze. Devastated and vengeful, Kasturi seeks Bhola’s help to exact revenge on ChintaMani. In the end, Kasturi uncovers ChintaMani’s dark deeds and kills him, securing her long-awaited revenge.

About the Director

Deeya Maskey is a distinguished actress, dancer, and performer, known for her versatile contributions to theatre and film. She holds a master’s degree in Kathak from Prayag Sangeet Samitee, Allahabad, India (2006), which laid the foundation for her unique approach to combining dance with theatre. Upon joining Actors’ Studio, Deeya began bridging the gap between these two art forms, pioneering innovative performances. Throughout her career, she has been part of over a dozen full-length plays and more than 100 street and forum theatre productions, performing extensively both in Nepal and internationally.

Deeya’s acting credits include pivotal roles in critically acclaimed plays such as Virtual Reality, Chokhauni, Malami, Honest Thief, A Moon for the Misbegotten, Waiting For Godot, Court Martial, Conference of the Birds, and many others. In addition to theatre, she has acted in several notable films, including Kagbeni, Sanguro, Fitkiree, Tata Goodbye, Dokh, and the award-winning Prakash, for which she received the National Award for Best Actor in 2023.

Director’s Note

In art, I am captivated by the fusion of reality and magic, where reality feels like magic and magic seems grounded in reality. This unique blend can only be achieved by transcending the conventional narrative style of realism. In folk drama, myth, fantasy, and reality intertwine seamlessly, creating a rich, multidimensional experience. This is the essence of Katha Kasturi, which emerged from my deep connection with the story’s sentiments. It reminds me of the first tale I ever heard as a child and the first time I tasted “cotton candy”—a moment filled with wonder and sweetness. The story offers a “larger-than-life” perspective, moving beyond the mundane details of everyday life. Art, to me, should touch life, resonate with the times, and speak to the human experience. I was drawn to Nayan Raj Pandey’s ‘Sharpadansa’for its insightful exploration of politics, poverty, and exploitation in Madhesh, as well as its humane portrayal of snakes. I am grateful to Viplob Pratik Dai, Sanjita Parajuli, Anup Sir, and everyone involved in the play for bringing this vision to life.

About Playwright

Nayan Raj Pandey is a prominent Nepali writer and screenwriter known for his realistic portrayal of Nepali society, human emotions, and the complexities of life. His writing spans various genres, including fiction, drama, and screenwriting, often blending humor and poignancy to explore the human experience.

Pandey’s major works include Loo (2004), a critically acclaimed novel reflecting the social and political changes in Nepal’s Terai region, and Ular (1998), which gained significant popularity. Ghamkiri (2013), a collection of stories, explores the lives and struggles of ordinary people, while Sallipir (2012) examines contemporary social issues. His 2021 novel Yaar earned him the Padmashree Sahitya Puraskar, and his latest work, Jiyara, continues his exploration of societal challenges.

Pandey has also contributed to Nepali cinema through screenwriting, with notable films like Basain and Shirishko Phul. He regularly writes essays and short stories, and is an influential mentor and commentator in the Nepali literary scene, deeply understanding the Nepali psyche and resonating with readers across social divides.

Traveling Crew

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Brochure Text

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Director :                            Ajay Kumar

Writer :                               Vijaydan Detha

Group :                               NSD Repertory Company, New Delhi

Language :                          Hindi

Duration :                           140min.

Date :                                  31 Jan, 03 &10 Feb 2025

Play : MAI RI MAI KA SE KAHUN

Based on the story ‘Duvidha’ written by Vijaydan Detha, Mai Ri Main Ka Se Kahoon  is the story of the conflict between a woman’s desire, her emotions and the social norms. One of the biggest disparities or irony of today’s progressive society, which advocates women walking shoulder to shoulder with men, and providing them equal rights, is put forward in the author’s words, as follows – ‘  Where is the woman’s own will, Medhi (vestibule) till before reaching the Masaan (crematorium)… and straight to Masaan from the Medhi.’

In a society that claims to have reached the height of science and intellect, woman is still not free to exercise her mental and physical rights – rather she has to weigh her every desire and reluctance against masculine thoughts. from birth to marriage, all her rights are with her parents and after marriage, with her husband and children. Her feelings, her desires,  all her freedom… all its possibilities are still limited to the two restricted frameworks created by the society – ‘From Medhi to Masaan’…

Director                              : Amol Shriram Deshmukh

Writer                                 : Molière

Group                                 : Department of Theatre, Pune

Language                            : Hindustani

Duration                             : 80 mins.

Date                                    : 31 Jan. 2025

Play : Kanjoos

Kanjoos is a Hindi adaptation of Moliere’s famous play “The Miser” and is performed by the First Year Theatre Students of Dept. of Theatre MIT-ADT University. Kanjoos is a comedy that centres on the character of Mirza Baig, a wealthy but miserly man, who is obsessed with hoarding his money. The play critiques greed and its destructive effects on both personal relationships and society. Mirza’s extreme miserliness leads him to neglect his family, including his children, who are in love with people their father disapproves as they are not financially well-off. Mirza’s miserliness leads to comedic situations, misunderstandings, and conflicts as he attempts to marry off his daughter to a wealthy but older suitor and his son to an aged woman only to avoid spending anything from his fortune. The play uses farce and slapstick humour to expose the absurdities of excessive greed, with Mirza’s character serving as a symbol of human folly.

The production Kanjoos is based on the adaptation of the play, ‘The Miser’, published by Vani Prakashan, New Delhi. It remains one of Molière’s most performed and enduring works, exploring themes of money, selfishness, and family dynamics with wit and sharp social commentary.

Director                              : Satyendra Parmar

Writer                                 : Surendra Verma

Group                                 : Upasana School of Performing Art, Gujarat University

Language                            : Hindi

Duration                             : 80 mins.

Date                                    : 30 Jan. 2025

Play : Surya Ki Antim Kiran Se Pehli Kiran Tak

Set in the 10^th century BCE, this story follows the lives of Queen Sheelavathi and King Okkak, exploring the ancient practice of Niyog. In this tradition, women unable to conceive with their husbands are paired with other men to bear a child. Queen Sheelavathi, known for her strength and grace, is forced into this custom against her wishes, leading to deep emotional struggles. The play focuses on the pain and conflict faced by both the queen and the king during the night of Niyog. Through powerful storytelling and heartfelt dialogues, it reveals the struggles of duty, personal freedom, and the quiet suffering caused by societal pressures. The moving narrative leaves a lasting impression, encouraging empathy and thought.

Director                              : Deepak Amonker

Writer                                 : Vijaykumar Naik

Group                                 : Rudreshwar Panaji, Goa

Language                            : Marathi

Duration                             : 105 mins.

Date                                    : 30 Jan. 2025

Play: Palshetchi Vihir

Palshetchi Vihir is a play based on the life of Marathi’s first female playwright, Heerabai Pednekar. The play depicts the hardship faced by Heerabai during her life. It also sheds light on a male-dominated theatre field, orthodox, conservative thoughts of the society in the 19^th Century and the reformative approach adopted by Heerabai in theatre for women empowerment. This play is a biopic of Heerabai Pednekar, who from a ‘kothewali’ background, struggled for education and a respectable life. The play is in a Docudrama format. The conventional Marathi Natya Sangeet was an integral part of her life; hence the use of it in the play elevates the performance. Her attempt to write a play and struggle to stage the same are showcased in the plot. This gives a dramatically shocking graph to the play, Palshetchi Vihir.

Guidance                            : Hema Singh

Writer                                 : Agha Hashr Kashmiri

Group                                 : NSD Students, 2^nd Year

Language                            : Hindustani

Duration                             : 75 mins.

Date                                    : 30 Jan. 2025

Play : Khwab- e – Hasti

Khwab- e – Hasti, a play by Agha Hashr Kashmiri, is considered a masterpiece in Indian theatre known for its rich language, intricate plot, and strong characterizations which continues to captivate audiences with its exploration of human emotions and societal dilemmas. The play delves into the complexities of human existence, aspirations, and the interplay between dreams and reality. It revolves around a central character grappling with personal desires, societal pressures, and the pursuit of meaning in life. Kashmiri’s plays were influential in shaping Indian drama, exploring themes such as love, betrayal, honour, and the clash between tradition and modernity. The play remains relevant today, resonating with audiences through its universal themes and timeless characters. Kashmiri’s storytelling prowess shines through, as he skillfully captures the essence of human existence and the intricacies of the human psyche. Khwab- e – Hasti remains a testament to the enduring power of theatre to illuminate the human experience and its universal message continues to connect with the audiences.

Director                              : Noushad Mohamed Kunju

Writer                                 : Anton Chekhov

Group                                 : Department of Theatre Arts, Hyderabad

Language                            : Multilingual

Duration                             : 110 Mins.

Date                                    : 29 Jan. 2025

Play: Uncle Vanya

Uncle Vanya is a tragicomedy by Anton Chekhov, set in a rural Russian estate. The story revolves around the characters’ unfulfilled lives and frustrated desires. The main protagonist, Uncle Vanya (Ivan Petrovich), has spent much of his life managing the estate for his Brother-in-law, Professor Serebryakov. The Professor, an aging, pompous scholar, returns to the estate with his young, beautiful wife, Yelena. This triggers a series of emotional tensions. Vanya secretly loves Yelena, while Mikhail Lvovich Astrov, the Local Doctor, also becomes infatuated with her. The frustration and dissatisfaction of the characters escalates when Vanya confronts the Professor about his selfishness and mismanagement, which ultimately leads to a failed attempt at violence. The play explores themes of existential despair, unrequited love, and the passage of time, offering a poignant reflection on the human condition.

Director                              : Amit Sanouria & Sarver Ali

Writer                                 : Shri. Girish Karnad

Adaptation                          : B.R. Narayan

Group                                 : Satvik Art Society, Chandigarh

Language                            : Hindi

Duration                             : 105 mins

Date                                    : 29 Jan 2025

Play : NAAGMANDAL

This play entitled NAAGMANDAL is a Story of Marriage and love pursuits, and analyses the powerful portrait of the agony and anguish faced by both men and women in their development into adult roles and social adjustment in a society where the individual is given little space for self-development awareness and independence as a being. Girish Karnad’s plays reflect upon contemporary Indian cultural and social life through the use of folk tales, myths and historical legends. He weaves together timeless truths about human life and emotions contained in ancient Indian stories with the changing social mores and morals of modern life. His plays are particularly concerned with the psychological problems, dilemmas and conflicts experienced by Modern Indian men and women in their different social situations.

Writer – Director                : Joy Maisnam

Group                                 : NSD Sikkim Centre

Language                            : Hindi

Duration                             : 75 mins.

Date                                    : 15 Feb. 2025

Play : The Journey of Sorrow

The Indian Farmer takes birth in debt, and dies in the same conditions.

The Journey of Sorrow is a conceptual play, based on the suicide of farmers in India. As per NCRB data 2023, one farmer dies by suicide every hour in India. It is like an unending vicious circle of loans, debts, dry crops and no rains, no food, no water and finally no means of livelihood for entire families which drives men and women to desperation and panic, and finally they cross over the line between life and death. The presentation of this play is ‘Psycho-Physical’, a style of performance which uses the body as an entire medium to bring out the psychological states of the mind before the audience. The entire presentation is based on movements, from the largest to the minutest, and is completely built up on rhythm and music, with minimal text wherever necessary.