On December 23, 2023, when theatre practitioner Anup Neupane initiated the reunion of the Mandala Theatre alumni, the idea of organising a theatre festival emerged among some attendees.
All present alumni supported the idea, and a committee was immediately formed to organise an event. They named it, the Mandala Alumni Drama Festival (MAD-Fest). The committee decided to hold the first edition from July 5 to 7.
Since then, the alumni have worked day and night to ensure the festival’s success. As the festival date approaches, alumni are engaged in the Mandala Theatre—rehearsing plays, giving media interviews, designing sets, and creating prompts.
The three-day-long festival will feature panel discussions, poetry, musical sessions, and six plays.
Here is the list of six plays that will be staged at MAD-Fest 2024.
Aagam
Aagam, directed by Pritisha Adhikari, revolves around the consequences a woman faces due to infertility. The play vividly depicts the steps she must take to seek acceptance from society after she becomes incapable of giving birth.
“What I want the audience to perceive from this play is when women are kept on a pedestal of never making any errors related to their motherhood and when they are mentally distraught with the weight of maintaining the legacy, they are obliged to commit a crime,” says Adhikari, director of the play.
Aagam will be staged on July 7 at 1:00 pm.
Ankuran
Directed by Sagar Karki, the play Ankuran is based on a social story, depicting a woman’s experiences through three lifetimes. It explores familial and social ideological conflicts between husband and wife, portrayed through characters like daughter, daughter-in-law, and mother.
The play questions the meanings of truth and education through various characters.
Ankuran uses a realistic semi-classic approach to reveal household dynamics. The emotions of characters are reflected through light and set design, with the play being text-based, characterised by monologues and dialogues.
Ankuran will be staged on July 5 at 3:00 pm.
Mirror
Directed by Sushan Basnet, Mirror tells the story of Swoopna who aspires to become a rap artist. However, his father, who is an ex-army officer, opposes his ambition and wants him to join the British Army. Swoopna faces numerous obstacles in his pursuit of a rap career.
Director Basnet says, with this play, I want to showcase the relationship between a father and a son, but in a different context, that is rarely discussed in the Nepali theatre scene. Mirror is the debut play of Basnet.
Mirror is based on the hip-hop genre. Regarding the genre of the play, Basnet says, “There is no proper play in the hip-hop genre. I’m very much into listening to rap and hip-hop genre music. This might be the first play that introduces the hip-hop genre in the theatre community in Nepal.”
Mirror will be staged on July 7 at 3:00 pm.
Nugdha
Nugdha, directed by Bijay Tamang Blown, depicts the story of Nuhan, a young man from a normal family who dreams of competing in the World Dance Championship. Nugdha is the debut direction of Blown.
But Nuhan’s father insists he finds a well-paying job to support the family, leading to a clash between ambition and duty. The relentless pursuit of his dream takes a toll on Nuhan’s mental health, and he endures unimaginable pain. The play explores the protagonist’s emotional and psychological journey as battles with his mental health.
Nugda is a powerful exploration of dreams, loss and the strength of the human spirit.
Nugda will be staged on July 6 at 1:00 pm.
Railway to Nowhere
Directed by Samyog Guragain, Railway to Nowhere is a play that is based on semi-absurd reality. Rooted in the philosophy of how a broken system entraps lower-class citizens in an inescapable maze, the play examines the inherent conflict that arises within individuals as they seek order clashing with themselves, society, and the universe at large.
At its core, Railway to Nowhere is a poignant rebellion led by ordinary citizens deemed insane by the state. The play’s setting, a station of eternal waiting, symbolises the dream of an ideal system and the alluring yet unfulfilled promise of a destination never to be reached.
Through a satirical lens, the narrative critiques the order and economics of a fictional universe. It portrays a group of characters waiting with questions, pain, and curiosity. Their eyes are set on an unseen hero. This hero, they believe, holds the key to resolving their mess.
Railway to Nowhere will be staged on July 5 at 1:00 pm.
Shilpini
Shilpini is directed by Bedana Rai. According to her, this play is a tribute to the resilience of women who carve their paths towards empowerment, sculpting their own space amidst societal, mental and physical barriers.
She further says that this play celebrates each woman’s journey towards self-definition. It is an inspiring tale of empowerment that focuses on the setbacks and triumphs experienced by these individuals.
Shilipni will be staged on July 6 at 3:00 pm.
