Lights, stage, action!

The third Vinod Doshi theatre festival promises to be full of exciting and interesting stories

It's time for some theatre as the third annual Vinod Doshi Theatre Festival is scheduled between February 22 and 26. Theatre lovers will get a chance to catch up with a popular play and four new plays by emerging directors. The festival, which is organised in memory of industrialist Vinod Doshi, in the past has staged many popular shows.



The festival will open with Ghashiram Kotwal written by Vijay Tendulkar and directed by Vijay Govind. Some of the other plays include Gajab Kahani by Mohit Takalkar, Abhi Naa Jaao Chhod Kar by Hidayat Sami, Mister Behram by Aniruddha Khutwad and Mangutivar Mayasabha by Irawati Karnik.

Ashok Kulkarni, coordinator of the festival, mentions that the directors were selected by a jury. "We wanted to give a chance to new directors and hence have shortlisted plays through the jury. We asked directors to present their plays and the main criteria was that their work should not have been presented anywhere else," he said.u00a0

The directors admit that they have toiled a lot to get their plays ready in time for the festival. "We have been working on our respective plays and the festival for the past two months," says Aniruddha Khutwad.

But in spite to trying to get fresh plays into the city, the organisers are unhappy that they have not been able to draw a large crowd. "Last year, we had around 300 audience members in spite of keeping the ticket prices minimal. It's sad that there is not a large number of people who come and watch theatre but we want to still continue with our work," says Dr Saryu Doshi, a noted art historian and wife of Vinod Doshi.u00a0u00a0u00a0

From: February 22 to 26, 7.30 pm onwards
At: Yashwantrao Chavan Natya Sabhagruha, Kothrud.