Kathmandu:

The Kathmandu International Theatre Festival 2008 began at Gurukul on November 11. Theatre groups from various countries like Bangladesh, Denmark, England, India, Norway, Russia, Thailand, USA and Nepal will be performing plays during the festival, which will run till November 27.

The inauguration was graced by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Bamdev Gautam as the chief guest.

Two books were also launched then — Three Plays by Professor Abhi Subedi and Abako Nepal edited by Viplob Pratik.

Veteran artist Kiran Manandhar was invited to hand over an amount of Rs 50,000 which had been collected through the Nepal Lalitkala Loktantrik Abhiyan to Minister Gautam to be added to the PM’s fund.

Minister Gautam said he felt proud and honoured to be gracing the function and promised support and best wishes from the government’s side.

Historian Satya Mohan Joshi said such festivals have a symbolic importance and send a message of peace and understanding especially at a time when the constitution is being written.

The opening play for the festival was Dreams of Peach Blossoms by the Aarohan Theatre Group. The play span through three different layers of time from ancient, middle and modern.

It depicted the lives of artisans, the terrible fate that awaited them after creating beautiful masterpieces. And how these are ridiculed and have lost importance in today’s materialistic world. It also dwelt on the emotions of a young woman whose sad voices are never heard, how no one understands her feelings.

An added attraction of the play was poet Manjul’s recitation of poetry giving a new flavour to the play, while Kiran Manandhar created an artwork on it as the play was being staged.

Everyday a new play will be stage by the different theatre groups that have come for the festival.

Each play will be staged twice — at 12:00 noon and 5:00 pm. Tickets are available at Gurukul.