Kausi, the new black box in the Capital founded by Katha Ghera is ready to open its doors to audiences for the first time ever. 

The rooftop theatre in Teku will see Dayalu Rukh, an adaptation of Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree, as its opening play on Thursday, June 21.  

“We have been producing and directing for a while now. Initially, the idea was to use the terrace as a workshop and rehearsal space,” says Akanchha Karki, the co-founder of Katha Ghera,  adding, “but one thing led to another and we realised we would rather invest in a holistic theatre that can serve all purposes for theatre professionals.” The theatre has been built on Karki’s house.

“Whenever we produce a play, the primary concern is always the venue. The availability of venue often determines the cost, the date, and the presentation of a play,” says co-founder Gunjan Dixit, “Having a place of our own means we can focus more on doing things that we love.”

According to Karki and Dixit, they wouldn’t have put up any other play to open their theatre with. Karki says, “This play holds a special place in my heart. It has had an impact on me since my childhood. I feel like this play perfectly portrays the relationship humans have with nature in general but also with the humans they love or those who love them.”

The theatre is designed to accommodate approximately 125 members in the audience. “We want this space to be a place where artists can come, practice, and exhibit their craft. We want Kausi to be a regulated but uncensored space where what has to be spoken can be spoken,” adds Karki.

Kausi, is also the first women-led theatre in Kathmandu, and perhaps the whole nation.

The play will run until July 8, except for Tuesdays.