It is a matter of curiosity that only one play is staged in a month these days as against dozens just 15 years ago.

State artistes have to wait for months to speak their lines and the stage sees no activity during the rest of the time.

Senior stage artistes said the importance of drama is still intact although its market has been replaced by electronic entertainment including television and video.

Audiences however take an interest in the theatre if it happens to be good.

Senior stage artiste Prachanda Malla said the stage has been lacking in activity because of cinema and television though it would play to full houses for weeks one and a half decades ago.

Although theatre artistes say that a play is successful only after it is staged and not just after it is written, its market faces a bleak situation because of much writing but fewer staging and low audience figures.

In view of these facts a National Drama Festival 2059 began in the capital on Monday with an objective of helping the development of literature, art and culture through drama, to raise the enthusiasm of stage artistes and to arouse interest in the people.

On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bal Krishna Sama, Plays including Pralhad, Uu Mareki Chhaina, Talamathi, Ma, Motiram, Boksi, Buhartan, Andhabeg, Amit Basana and Mutuko Byatha will be staged during the three-day festival organised by the Royal Nepal Academy.

Sama brought about a revolution in the Nepali theatre by writing tragedies as against the earlier tradition of writing comedies only. He contributed more than three dozen plays on historic, Vedic and social themes.

The festival has being organised since 2033 BS.

Speaking at the inauguration of the festival, minister for culture, tourism and civil aviation Bal Bahadur KC said the government is ready to assist stage artistes for the uplift of Nepali language, literature and the genre of the drama.

Vice-chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy Mohan Koirala said the festival was organised to highlight the contributions of Sama in drama and to encourage artistes up country.

Member secretary of RNA Dr Tulsi Bhattarai said the success of a play is not in its writing but in its staging and the audience response.

Convenor and academician Neer Shaha said 10 plays were selected out of 27 presented at the festival.