Prithvi Theatre will host its first theatre festival in the UAE from April 27 to May 1 at Ductac, Mall of the Emirates. Prithvi @ Dubai, organised by Raging Tiger Events, is the UAE version of the festival. The annual event will begin with a selection of productions staged at Prithvi Theatre by the likes of Bollywood biggies such as Naseeruddin Shah, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akhtar, who have been with Prithvi Theatre since its inception.
The 38-year-old theatre company was established by legendary actor and filmmaker Prithviraj Kapoor to give a creative outlet to Indian actors and as a launch pad for newcomers. However, the theatre was shut down momentarily after being built due to his deteriorating health. His son, veteran actor Shashi, and his wife Jennifer, took over in 1972 to renovate and reestablish the theatre. Today, it sees over 640 shows annually and has been running to almost sold out shows per performance. An annual Prithvi Festival is also held in which famous artists and maestros from all across India participate.
The plays to be staged include Rajit Kapur-directed Tennessee Williams modern day tragedy The Glass Menagerie; Dear Liar, George Bernard Shaw’s secret letters and his romance with Mrs Patrick Campbell, played by Naseeruddin Shah and his wife Ratna Pathak Shah; and Vinay Pathak’s Nothing Like Lear, an 80-minute spoof on Shakespeare’s King Lear.
On day 2, Bollywood actress Sonali Kulkarni and Milind Pathak will take the stage to explore the dilemma of continually redefining conventional man-woman relationships in a digital, internet world in White Lily and Knight Rider.
Azmi and husband Akhtar will present Kaifi Aur Main, a musical rendition of Azmi’s mother, Shaukat’s, memoirs with her husband, the poet Kaifi Azmi.
Audience can also meet the artists each day during the Stage Talks series.
Tickets start at Dh100. Call 04-3414777 or write to box.office@ductac.org
