Ishara International Puppet Festival
What: Ishara International Puppet Festival
When: February 14, 15 and 16, 2012
Where: NCPA, Mumbai
Telephone: 022-2282 4567/022-6622 3724
Delhi seems to be the epicentre of the current flurry of activity in puppetry theatre namely the Ishara International Puppet Festival. Given the spate of international groups performing multiple shows in the capital city over a period of two weeks vis a vis a mere 3 plays touring Mumbai, Delhi has certainly trumped Mumbai and how! Not surprisingly, since Ishara is a Delhi-based Trust dedicated to increasing awareness and appreciation of various forms of puppetry across the world.
The 3 Mumbai performances are award winning shows from Australia, Italy and Bulgaria and all groups have extensively toured various continents with these performances.
The first performance by Sydney Puppet Theatre, Australia, is a two-play enactment of “OH RATS!” and “A PACKAGE FOR GRANNY”. The former play showcases the lovable escapades of Magica the magician, the antics of his new assistant and of course the indispensable special magic hat, while the latter is an assortment of well known nursery rhymes and tales brought to life along a journey by Granny and her friends in search of a lost package.
The second performance “GONE WITH THE FEET” is an Italian production which uses poetry, music, masks, costumes and props, but no words. Interestingly, it is performed by acclaimed puppeteer Laura Kibel who uses her hands, feet, knees and stomach as characters and props in the play. The ingeniousness of Kibel is that the special effects are a pair of bare feet that transform in front of the audience, creating continually changing faces.
The third play is a Bulgarian performance, “CHICK WITH A TRICK”. It follows the hilarious misadventures of a hen who lays a bonbon instead of an egg. The hen grapples with this strange phenomenon and in the end she convinces herself that there is nothing wrong in doing something unusual and different if it brings joy to others.
All the plays are family shows and may be equally enjoyed by adults and kids. Do try and catch them since they all seem unique; it’s not like you will come by them again soon, if at all!
All the plays are being performed at 6.30 p.m. on 14th, 15th and 16th February, respectively at the NCPA. For tickets information, see comments.
(This article is for information purposes only. Unlike other weekend activities profiled on Kiducere, we have not watched this show; therefore, this is not a review or endorsement of the show).
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hey,
just called NCPA. They said tickets are free and one needs to come 45 mins in advance. Though only limited seats would be available
Thanks Dinesh.