JOIN USThe three-day theatre fest of National Law School of India University called ‘Admit One’ had students explore and express different themes and subjects through theatre. There were amateur and college theatre groups from across the country which participated in the fest.
The fest had the who’s who of Bangalore’s theatre circuit come to judge and encourage the students. Actor and theatre personality, Abhishek Saha from Mumbai, Prem Koshy, Thiyagaraja of Mime Theatre and Rubi Chakravarthy were also there. Among the groups which participated were ‘Notice Board’ and ‘Mad About Drama’ from Kolkata, ‘Theatre Opium’ from Chennai, Lok from Kolkata as well as college drama teams such as 14 Idlies from Chennai, ‘Verbum’ from Delhi, Aiana from Manipal and Rangpanch from Mumbai.
All this in addition to Bangalore-based theatre groups from RVCE, St Joseph’s College of Commerce and Amrita School of Engineering to mention a few. The three days saw several theatre groups explore various themes such as marriage, societal pressure and child abuse. And most of the groups were experts in their own way.
The theatre group of the St Joseph’s College performed a play titled, ‘The Gas’ which was directed and written by T H Lavakumar, a lecturer of the college. Talking about the play, Lavakumar says, “The play revolves around communal riots and child sexual abuse. It traces the story of a woman who has a daughter Naksha.
He husband dies and she remarries but the second marriage turns out to be tragic with the new husband sexually abusing the daughter.” Lavakumar says that play captures the emotions the girl goes through and a mother who refuses to believe that her daughter is being sexually exploited.
Another Bangalore-based college drama group from Amrita School of Engineering performed a play, ‘Untitled’ which was presented entirely as a monologue by the protagonist. All other actors are mute and in grey scale. “Our play explores the true consequences of our silence and the silence in the society.
Here the protagonist loses everything he loves, not because of the evil of one but because of the silence of many,” explains Ishan Roy, secretary drama club. The main character was played by Gowtham Nair along with Chetan Bansal, Nandini Mathan and Shishir. The first place went to ‘Mad About Drama’ from Kolkata, the second was bagged by ‘Notice Board’ from Kolkata and the third place went to Sophia College from Mumbai.