An international theatre festival, titled Bhadgaun International Children’s Theatre Fest, is scheduled to be held at the Matribhumi Theatre in Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, starting from October 23. The six-day fest will see performances by student-artists from Nepal, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. A total of 20 plays will be staged during the festival.

Speaking to the Post about the conception of the festival, Lila Kumar Shrestha, of Matribhumi School, said, “The motive of organising this fest, the first of its kind in Nepal, is to exchange our culture—our collective Nepali culture and our theatre culture—with our neighbouring countries.

“This will also give exposure to our budding actors, who have been learning the basics of theatre under our extra-curricular activities,” Shrestha added. The fest will kick off with the staging of the play Bise Nagarchi, directed by Tanka Chaulagain, which will have students from Matribhumi School on stage.

The opening act will be followed by the staging of play Dhunga ko Khichadi, written and directed by Prakash Sindhuliya, and put together by actors from Whitefield Residential School. The opening day will see yet another play, The Miracle of Friendship, written and directed by Mohammad Boroumand and enacted by Simorgh Dramatic Group, from Iran.

The second day of the fest will see plays such as Je Ropyo Tehi Falcha (written and directed by Sumi Lohani; enacted by actors from Saurdeep Boarding School, Nepal); Sara Samaya Biparit (written by the veteran Nepali artist Ashesh Malla; enacted by KUHS’s ensemble); and Padmaboti Akkhan (directed by Sahadat Hossain Tito; enacted by Chander Hatt Children Theatre, Bangladesh).

The fest will draw to a close on Friday, Oct 28, with the staging of the Nepali classic Bahula Kajiko Sapana, directed by Prem Bhandari and enacted by the cast from St George International School, Nepal.