8th Theatre Olympics to begin from February 24 in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar, Feb 21: With India hosting the largest international theatre festival -the 8th Theatre Olympics – for the first time in Bhubaneswar is set to shine under the spotlight, as the city prepares itself to be one of the co-hosts to the biggest theatrical extravaganza in the world.

The theatre festival begins from February 24, which will continue till March 10.

The National School of Drama is collaborating with The Counselling of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar as well as the Department of Tourism & Culture, Odisha to host the Bhubaneswar segment of the 8th Theatre Olympics.

The people of Bhubaneswar are well familiar with the rich culture of Odisha theatre. Being one of the co-hosting cities to the grand event gives theatre enthusiasts the opportunity to experience a variety of folk, national, and international theatre, informed the organizer.

The mega event will provide the people of the state to catch a series of 14 stimulating world class performances, including plays from renowned theatre maestros such as “GalpoHekim Saheb” (Manoj Mitra), “IshqMalangi” (MustaqKak), and “Shri Ram Bijoy” (Dulal Roy), international productions “Mohajoner Nao”  (Sudip Chakraborthy, Bangladesh), “Matbring” (Yusuf Hasan Arko, Bangladesh), and “The Suspended Thread” (Pino Di Buduo, Italy).

Other plays that will enchant the city include “Aadi VidrohiTilka” (Sheikh Kairuddin), “BehadNafratKe Dino Mein” (DaulatVaid), “Streer Patra” (Seema Biswas), “Man of the Heart” (Suman Mukhopadhyaya), “Katha Karnabhar” (Suman Saha), “HiyarMajhe” (Kingsuk Bandyopadhyay), “HojangTaret” (Oasis Sougaijam), and “Elephant in the Room” (Yuki Ellias).

The Vice President of India Venkaiah Naidu inaugurated the 51-day-long nationwide theatre extravaganza at majestic Red Fort in Delhi on 17 February 2018.

With “Flag of Friendship” as its theme, the 8th edition of Theatre Olympics will celebrate universal friendship and human values by showcasing theatre traditions of India and the world.

“Art has been the earliest form of communication. Nothing gives an artist more delight than performing in front of an audience that appreciates art, no matter from which part of the world they come. We are extremely proud to bring the world’s largest theatre festival to India. During this 51-day long nationwide celebration of the 8thTheatre Olympics, we attempt to bridge the borders across countries through the call of theatre and engage in creating a global village,” says Dr. Arjun Deo Charan, Acting Chairman of National School of Drama Society.