A touch of Nepalese theatre

Photo: Star

Talking about the ongoing theatre festival, Sunil said, "It's a well organised function, which has given me the opportunity to exchange views."

So far Sunil has directed 35 stage plays, most of them written by modern Nepalese and Indian playwrights. He has also directed western classics, including plays by Sophocles, Moliere, Jean Paul Sartre, Camus and others.

He has his own interpretations of the classics. In his words, "I present the classics according to the contemporary socio-political scenario. In course of that, I like to deal with democracy, social justice and pluralism.

"I like to see the classics through the eyes of the new generation. I fuse indigenous performing art forms of Nepal, which are ritualistic in presentation, with the western theatre style. In my design, I use traditional Nepalese motifs. And during directorial composition as well as design I prefer simplicity."

Since 1978, Sunil's active involvement with theatre has had a great impact on the resurgence of Nepalese theatre. General Secretary of Nepal Centre of International Theatre Institute, Sunil said, "Arohan Theatre is the only professional troupe in Nepal.

We stage 25 shows a month at our own hall, which is the source of bread and butter of the troupe members. But, I'm optimistic. Nepal has rich traditional indigenous performing art forms. And nowadays the younger generation is also interested in theatre, which is a positive sign for the Nepalese performing art form."

He went on to add that there is not much scope for theatre training in Nepal. His troupe is the only one to have introduced a two-year diploma course on theatre, where graduates from the Delhi-based National School of Drama (NSD) teach.

A graduate from NSD in 1987, he was the winner of the prestigious 'Best All Rounder Student Award' of the drama school in the same year. Besides staging theatre in the subcontinent, Sunil and his troupe have staged plays in Denmark, Norway and Russia.