
I regard the theatre as the greatest of all art forms,
the most immediate way in which a human being can share with another
the sense of what it is to be a human being.
– Oscar Wilde
Gyaan Adab hosted a weekend of Urdu/ Hindi and English plays showcased by three different theatre productions. On Saturday, March 7, 2015 Gyaan Adab staged an evening of English theatre showcasing works by established playwrights as well as new original writing. The theatre group Orange Reason presented Anton Chekhov’s celebrated play The Bear. The short David Ives play, Sure Thing that the group presented about a chance meeting between a man and a woman in a restaurant and how they pave through the minefield of conflicting interests, perceptions, likes, dislikes, political affiliations, nationality, origins, etc. was thoroughly enjoyed by the audience.
Moonbeam Factory Theatre presented original plays featuring a varied range of subjects. Sometimes, Stillness, a poetic dance drama with contemporary dancers and djembe music, which questioned choices and perspectives, was a visual treat. Socrates’ Last Wish established the fact that some lessons can’t be taught in a classroom. The play was about an idealistic professor mocking the Indian education system. What happens when you can’t accept a part of yourself? Part of You explored the answer to this question through the eyes of the protagonist, Prateek who is forced to come to terms with his own reality.
On Sunday, March 8 theatre group Nishaat staged a riveting Hindi/ Urdu play Pyaasa Samander. The play was based on the lives and love story of two legendary poets of the 20th century, Sahir Ludhianvi and Amrita Pritam.
These two days of theatre at Gyaan Adab gave a glimpse in the world of stage and drama that Gyaan Adab looks forward to explore.