Four award-winning plays to be staged at this NCPA theatre showcase in Mumbai

National Centre for the Performing Arts NCPA is bringing four awardwinning plays from the Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards META Festival hosting them at its Experimental Theatre to celebrate 20 years of the awardsThis fourday theatre showcase will be held from Thursday December 19 to Sunday December 22 2024 The critically acclaimed plays will be screened in Hindi Assamese and Bundeli complemented by other experiences including engaging workshops and talks that celebrate the spirit of theatreMETA enables a range of diverse themes and dialects to be showcased on the national stage at its annual weeklong festival in New Delhi which culminates in Indian theatrersquos prestigious award showOn hosting the first edition of the META festival in Mumbai Mr Bruce Guthrie Head of Theatre and Film National Centre for the Performing Arts said As we launch the inaugural NCPA Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards festival we are delighted to collaborate with the Mahindra Group and Teamwork Arts to bring these exceptional productions to the NCPA This festival features an incredible array of works from across India giving our audiencesa unique opportunity to explore the rich cultural narratives and stories that define our diverse heritage We are thrilled to offer a platform for established and emerging voices showcasing the transformative power of the performing arts and inviting audiences to engage with the myriad perspectives Together with our partners we look forward to celebrating artists extraordinary contributions and enriching the nations cultural landscaperdquoAlso ReadZubin Mehta in Mumbai My life conducting orchestra is like a molten lava it never stopsJay Shah Vice President Head Cultural Outreach The Mahindra Group said ldquoMETA has always been a powerful platform for social change through the rich and varied legacy of the theatre that it has showcased recognised and given voice to As we celebrate 20 milestone years of the META journey we are delighted to bring four plays that embody the depth reach and inclusive identity of META to NCPA Mumbai A powerful theatre experience awaits Mumbai audiences and we look forward to partaking of the same togetherrdquoSanjoy K Roy Managing Director Teamwork Arts said ldquoTheatre is one of the most powerful tools to hold up a mirror to society In its 20year journey META has empowered enabled and rewarded this art form which flourishes in the farthest corners of India To be able to bring a slice of META as part of its 20thyear year celebrations to the NCPA a space that accords theatre its rightful place is a fitting tribute to the potential and possibility of the stage and we are delighted that this could come to fruitionrdquoThe NCPAMETA festival lineup includes the following acclaimed playsAndha YugWhat Written by Dharamvir BharatiAndha Yugexplores moral dilemmas in the aftermath of the Mahabharata war reflecting on violence and its societal implicationsLanguage Hindi play with English subtitles 65 minsWhen Thursday December 19 700 pmAgarbattiWhat This powerful narrative addresses the struggles of widows and the complexities of crime and morality in a postmassacre societyLanguage Hindi and Bundeli 80 minsWhen Friday December 20 700 pmRaghunathWhat A poignant tale of loss and community Raghunathrsquos journey highlights the urgent need for infrastructure and hope in the face of tragedyLanguage Assamese play with English subtitles 70 minsWhen Saturday December 21 700 pmDo You Know This SongWhat Mallika Taneja invites audiences to journey through grief and rediscovery in this touching exploration of love loss and the power of memoryLanguage Hindi and English play with English subtitles 90 minsWhen Sunday December 22 700 pmAlso ReadAwardwinning theatrical lsquoLife of Pirsquo debuts in India premieres at NMACC in Mumbai