Theatre festivals lend incredible opportunities to the audience, theatre groups and all other entities related to the medium.
They may provide for a theme, a reason for all to come together or simply contribute to the larger eco-system thus created. Sutradhar has been a proud participant in many festivals in India, mostly by invitation.
Our own offering to the world of theatre festivals is The RangSutra Festival of Performing Arts. This festival is a joint effort of Sutradhar, Rangadhara - The Theatre Stream and Cisne for Arts. Both of these groups have been aces in the field of theatre. Rangadhara probably being the oldest surviving groups in Hyderabad and Sutradhar being one of the most diverse, each brings in their visions in conceptualizing this festival. Cisne for Arts is country’s leading Artiste Consultancy.
RangSutra is a festival which not only concentrates on local talent but invites groups from other cities in India. We soon intend to expand our horizons beyond our own country in terms of exposing International talent at home front. Also, this festival is not just about theatre, but about Performing Arts as a whole. It welcomes participation from dance troupes, theatre groups, folk artisans, dancers, fusion artistes and all genres of performing arts and artistes.
The first edition of RangSutra was organized in 2011, bringing to Hyderabad the legends of Theatre, Classical music and dance as well as contemporary artistes.
The year saw 6 performances by home-grown and outstation artistes over 3 days i.e. from 13th Jan through 15th Jan. Dramatic Space and Sonata by Sutradhar-Hyderabad; Sita and Maya by Veena Basavarajaiah, Bengaluru, Hatt Teri Kismat by Udaan Arts-Hyderabad; Khamosh! Adaalat Jaari Hai by Nishumbita, Hyderabad; Dastan Goi by Dastak, New Delhi were the performances rendered in this festival.
The year 2012 saw the likes of Tom Alter, Ashok Banthia, Mangala Bhatt, Vibha Rani, Jayaprada Ramamurthy, Ramaa Bharadvaj light up the Festival. Held from 1st to 4th March, the Festival was studded with Ghalib-A Musical Play by Pierrot’s Troupe-New Delhi; Mohenjo-daro by Big Bang Theatres-Mumbai; Main Krishna Krishn ki, Monologue by Vibha Rani, Avitoko Theatre-Chennai; Mitraa, Bharatnatyam by Ramaa Bharadvaj, Bengaluru; Gadha Ya Aadmi-Ek Prahasan (Leather Puppetry), Prakash Garud, Gombemane Puppet House, Dharwad, Vivarta-The Reincarnation, Flute Recital by Jayaprada Ramamurthy; Kabir Vani by Mangala Bhat & Vehaan Jugalbandi Kathak, Drums, Hyderabad and The Untouched, a play by Sutradhar, Hyderabad.
The third edition of Festival was organized from 04 January to 02 February 2014. It witnessed some Hyderabad`s productions ie `Diploma in Corruption`, `Partners`, Shesh-Neeshesh`, `Bhas-Ya-Abhas`, Main Rahi Masoom`, Mah Laqa Bai Chanda`, `Maa...Chai?`, `Taj Mahal Ka Tender`, `Vadhu Pariksha`, and `Gandhari`.
The Festival was organised by Rangadhara-The Theatre Stream, Sutradhar, Lamakaan and Marathi Granth Sangrahalaya.
As we gather some scattered thoughts to bring about the next RangSutra to you, please keep watching this space. We will announce it soon!.
We extend an open invitation to performing artistes from all over the world. You may hail from any stream of performing arts: theater, dance, storytelling, especially those who are trying to revive folk/indigenous art forms. We look forward to you adding another dimension to the ever expanding thread that is RangSutra.
Send in your entries to: team@sutradharactors.com
You should include:
1) Small write-up about yourself/your troupe.
2) A brief about the performance.
3) Photographs/press reviews of the play.
4) In addition to this, please courier us a dvd of the performance. Our mailing address is:
Festival Director, RangSutra Festival of Performing Arts, #3-6-145/9/1/1, Himayatnagar, Hyderabad – 500 029. Andhra Pradesh, India.
For details, email us or call on the numbers mentioned on our website.