KATHMANDU: A two-day international seminar on playwright Henrik Ibsen, ‘Ibsen Across Cultures’ started at Gurukul from November 28.

Scholars from Norway, Australia, Bangladesh, Macedonia and Nepal are participating in the seminar organised by Aarohan Gurukul. Expressing his expectation of the seminar being a fruitful event for all participants, Professor Mohan Prasad Lohani said, “The seminar will surely help create synergy between the two aspects — academic as well as theatrical performance — that celebrates Ibsen’s works.”

Addressing the inaugural session of the seminar, Minister Counsellor at Norwegian Embassy Einar Rystad said, “Ibsen and his plays are of universal importance and relevant to contemporary society. His plays, thus, can have an important role in helping in the creation of new Nepal.”

Professor Julie Holedge from Australia presented her paper that discussed Ibsen’s famous play A Doll’s House from the Christian and Islam perspectives. Meanwhile, Dr Shiva Rijal talked about the same play identifying its similarities and proximity with the Nepali culture.

The seminar is part of the various events being held to mark Ibsen week that Gurukul is celebrating from November 25 to December 1. Besides seminars, stage management workshop, art management workshop, theatrical performances are the events being organised to commemorate this week-long celebration.

A Doll’s House was performed on November 28 and The Master Builder will be staged on November 29 at Gurukul.