Dance-drama Rajendra Laxmi, which is based on the life and times of the first queen regent of the then Kingdom of Nepal, Rajendra Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, is currently being staged at Mandala Theatre in Anamnagar, Kathmandu.

The drama is directed by Namrata KC and is produced by Aesthetic Dance Studio, an institute the director co-founded.

“Through the staging of this dance-drama, we aim at strengthening women’s role in Nepali society by highlighting the courageous life-journey of Rajendra Laxmi Devi Shah in a larger scale, which is often expressed in a limited version by our history. Furthermore, the dance drama, we hope, will help explore and promote the diverse culture and practices of Nepali theatre, dance and music,” say the producers.

Queen Rajendra Laxmi is noted for her courageous rule, in which she furthered the unification process of modern Nepal, first spearheaded by Prithvi Narayan Shah.

On why Kathak dance was chosen to tell this particular story, the producers have said, “Kathak is one of the most relevant methods for telling a story. So, through this dance-drama we not only aim to please audiences with a new taste but also want to expand the scope of Nepali theatre’s narratives.”

Written jointly by Som Nath Khanal, Namrata KC and Samyog Guragain, Rajendra Laxmi features live music orchestrated by Ashesh Rai, Samyak Maharjan and Utsav Budhathoki. Rajendra Laxmi is enacted by actors Nishma Ghimire, Namrata KC, Riga Ghimire, Kunti Simali, Manisha Basnet, Pawan Pathak, Nisha Karki, Renu Yogi, Ritu Darshandhari and Alma Khatiwada.

Rajendra Laxmi is being staged at Mandala every day (except for Mondays) till July 8.