Three foreign troupes for Delhi Ibsen Festival 2012

New Delhi, Nov 30 (IANS) The fifth edition of the Delhi Ibsen Festival Dec 1-7 will bring to the capital a wide range of productions that represent many new trends in theatre internationally and will feature troupes from Pakistan, Norway, Uzbekistan and India.

“Sometimes these are very experimental, while at other times, the productions become windows to how different cultures, be it Asian, African or European, have adapted Ibsen into their own cultural ethos and milieu,” the Norwegian embassy said in a statement.

Presented by the Royal Norwegian Embassy and the Dramatic Art and Design Academy, the festival celebrates innovations, creativity and the strengthening of bilateral ties between Norway and India.

“I am very proud to see that Henrik Ibsen is a vibrant part of the Indian theatre scene. Ibsen is not just an icon for Norwegians, but he is one of the most frequently played and explored playwrights globally, belonging to all of us. The universal themes that Ibsen offers also find a great resonance with modern India,” Norwegian Ambassador Eivind S. Homme said.

“Cultural cooperation forms an important part of the embassy’s overall activities and goals in India. The Delhi Ibsen Festival has become a prominent part of the theatre scene in the city and gives new talent a voice and stage.”

“This has also addressed the needs of young Indian artists to learn about theatre practices and techniques. I wish the festival great success,” Homme added.

Additionally, a seminar on an unusual theme, “Who is the Enemy”, will be held Dec 8-9.

“The idea of ‘enemy’ is open to multiple levels of interpretation encompassing aesthetics, history, socio-political issues and economic scenarios of discourse. Many conventional and established ideologies are reviewed as open-ended questions,” the embassy statement said.

Schedule of plays:

Dec 1 – The Master Builder, Dec 2 – When We Dead Awaken, Dec 3 – Ghosts, Dec 4/5 – Gurrya Ka Ghar, Dec 5 – The Lady from the Sea, Dec 6 – Jai Jawaan Party, Dec 7 – An Enemy of the People.

IANS 2012-11-30 17:58:09