International Theatre Festival of Kerala

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CHRONICLES 2008-2013

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international theatre festival of Launched in 2008, the International Theatre Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) operates as one of the major theatre festivals of India. ITFoK is organized by Kerala SangeethaNatakaAkademi; the nodal body for promotion of theatre, music and allied performing arts of Kerala. Akademi is an autonomous institution under the Department of Culture, Govt. of Kerala. Conceived during the chairmanship of Late BharathMuralias an annual theatre festival for independent, experimental and contemporary theatre groups from across the world, ITFoK has been elevated to a major cultural event of international appeal and repute. Today it ranks among the most important Indian theatre festivals. Spanning eight days ITFoK takes place at the site of the Akademi in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. Precise and wellcalibrated, curatorial exercise behind every edition has given a definite character to ITFoK. Open-air performances and shows of Kerala’s own traditional theatre connecting local contemporary practices are other highlights of the event.

kerala Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Aademi (Above), KT Muhammed Memorial Theatre (Below)

Kerala is a state in the South-West border of the Indian sub-continent. Nestled between the Blue Mountains in the east and seven hundred km’s of Arabian Sea on the west, the state is widely known as “God’s Own Country” for its scenic beauty. Its sandy beaches, waving coconut palms, quiet lagoons, and temperate climate, punctuated by monsoons, have made Kerala an internationally loved travel destination. The state of Kerala is also home of several distinctive traditional art forms reputed for their alluring charm and stylistic uniqueness. These art forms rooted in the land and culture of the people of Kerala have exerted a perennial impact on the cultural scenario for the whole of India.

kerala sangeetha nataka akademi KSNA is an autonomous body under the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of Kerala. It is a center for music, dance and drama that co-ordinates and promotes the traditional and modern art forms of the state. The credit for establishing the center for performing arts goes to the ministry headed by veteran communist, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, who assumed office in 1957. Thanks to the ministry’s efforts, preservation, documentation, and encouragement of the varied art forms of the state materialized on 26 April 1958 when Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India and statesman, inaugurated the KSNA in Thrissur. The Akademi’s work spreads over four areas: performances, academic research, social commitment and cultural exchange. Professional and amateur theatre groups regularly hold performances of traditional and modern dramatic forms in the Akademi’s theatre. Financial assistance is offered to them as an encouragement. Seminars, discussions and workshops are a regular feature of the Akademi’s program. The library and the museum in the Akademi help researchers to keep abreast of contemporary trends in theatre arts.

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thrissur Thrissur has the fame of being the Cultural Capital of Kerala. Its cultural, spiritual and religious leanings are evident throughout history. It also houses Kerala LalithakalaAkademi, Kerala SahityaAkademi, School of Drama and Fine Arts, Kerala Kalamandalam, Cheruthuruthy Unnaywarrier Smaraka KalaNilayam, Irinjalakkuda NatanaKairali, Irinjalakkuda and Govt. College of Fine Arts. Thrissur enjoys a thriving cultural tradition dating back centuries. ThrissurPooram also called as ‘the pooram of all poorams’ is celebrated every year in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) as per the Malayalam calendar. It is the biggest of all poorams held in Kerala. Kerala Theatre Festival,another noteworthy addition to the cultural capital- ITFoK is a serious international contemporary theatre happening in Thrissur, Kerala at the beginning of every New Year.

international theatre festival of kerala - itfok Thrissur has the fame of being the Cultural Capital of Kerala. Its cultural, spiritual and religious leanings are evident throughout history. It also houses Kerala LalithakalaAkademi, Kerala SahityaAkademi, School of Drama and Fine Arts, and Fine Arts College. Thrissur enjoys a thriving cultural tradition dating back centuries. ThrissurPooram also called as ‘the pooram of all poorams’ is celebrated every year in the month of Medam (mid-April to mid-may) as per the Malayalam calendar. It is the biggest of all poorams held in Kerala. Kerala Theatre Festival,another noteworthy addition to the cultural capital- ITFoK is a serious international contemporary theatre happening in Thrissur, Kerala at the beginning of every New Year.

how to reach ksna To reach KSNA the nearest Airport is Cochin International Airport. Along the National Highway, it is 52.5KM. It’s just one hour drive to reach Chembukavu where KSNA situates. The second nearest Airport is Calicut Airport. Along the SH39 (State Highway) it is 106KM. It is exactly 2.19 hours drive to KSNA. From Thrissur Railway Station to KSNA, it is 3.2 km’s and 2.7 km’s via Kodungallur – Shoranur Road or St. Mary’s College Road respectively.

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20 ITFoK 2013 (Jan 15-22) in which the KSNA had Dr. P.V. Krishnan Nair as the Secretary, and was headed by SooryaKrishnamoorthy as Chairman& Festival Director, consisted of international, national, Malayalam, solo and traditional performances. The curatorial board consisted of Tripurari Sharma, P. Balachandran, Ramesh Varma, Anita Cheriyan, and Amitesh Grover. This edition highlighted a handful of works that re-wrote classic texts and developed new devised performances and plays that explored the realms of dance-theatre, music-theatre, and physical theatre. Seminars included Malayalam Theatre Today, Traditional Shows, Theatre Workshop and interactive sessions such as Music Crossover and Director in Dialogue. Minister for Culture KC Joseph inaugurated this edition. Poland, UK, Italy, US, Romania, Georgia and India were represented in this edition.ITFoK 2013 focused on contemporary theatre from Europe plus a few innovative and experimental works from India. In addition, a cross section of contemporary Indian theatre was included to represent the varied streams of theatre happening in different parts of the country. Solo performances also had a prominent place in this edition.

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The fourth edition of ITFoK 2012 (Feb 1-8) was headed by K.C. Joseph, Minister for Culture and Public Relations. SooryaKrishnamoorthyserved as Chairman and Festival Director, respectively. Dr. P.V. Krishnan Nair was Secretary. This fourth edition of ITFoK focused on the plays of master playwrights from across the world. Five senior Kerala based artists inaugurated this edition, includingPadmabhusahanKalamadalam,Rama nkutty Nair, M.V. Devan, Parassala B. Ponnammal and ThrippekkulamAchuthaMarar on the pleasant evening of 1 February, 4th.ITFoK explored wide and diversified horizons of world theatre with special focus on Masters of the past and present. The contemporary works from Poland, Italy, Lithuania, England, with innovative productions from India blurred borders again, connecting and inspiring once more. ITFoK 2012 hosted 16 productions, 250 artists and several hundred academicians/ observers. The festival witnessed a spectatorship of approximately 60,000.Seminars included Director in Dialogue, Music and Poetry Cross Over and Traditional Performances like Tholpavakoothu, Krishnattam, Kathakali and Theyyam.

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The third edition of ITFoK in 2010 (December 22-31) was also headed by former Minister for Education and Culture, M.A. Baby as Chief Patron. Film/theatre actor Mukesh served as Chairman, and Malayalam poet C. Ravunni was Secretary of KSNA during the third edition of ITFOK. Mr.Abhilash Pillai completed a second term as Artistic Director. The Curatorial Committee consisted of Sadanand Menon, Sudhanva Deshpande, Sreeelatha. S, Ramesh Varma, Ashutosh Potdar, Shantanu Bose, Jayaprakash Kullur, Gopan Chidambaram, and Sreeja Arangottukara. The festival included plays from the world, and from India, including Kerala. Its focus emphasized contemporary theatre of the world, highlighting Latin American Theatre. Chile, Mexico, Bolivia, Spain, Cuba, The United Kingdom, Japan, and India presented theatre representations in this edition of the Festival. Colloquim, Director in Dialogue, Traditional Performances and Music Crossover were the other highlights. Inaugurated by Padmabhushan Girish Karnad, on 22ndDecember, the festival explored wide and diversified horizons of world theatre with a special focus on theatre from Latin American countries. ITFoK 2010 hosted 35 productions, 750 artists and several hundred academicians/observers. The festival witnessed a spectatorship of approximately 60,000. Two commissioned productions one with Latin American artists and the other between School of Drama in Thrissur (Calicut University) and Casa de la India - Spain were the special events of the festival.

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The second edition of ITFoK in 2009 (December 20-29) was a festival of Afro – Asian Countries and was headed by former Minister for Education and Culture, M.A. Baby as Chief Patron. For ITFoK 2009, K.M. RaghavanNambiar took on the role of acting chairman after the sad and sudden death of Actor Murali. Dr. PrabhakaranPazhassi remained secretary, and well-known Theatre practitioner and academic AbhilashPillai was its Artistic Director. After developing a greater interest in traditions of Africa, along with its complicated challenges, the focus attained socio-political and historical significance. Theatre productions from South Africa,Kenya,Pakistan, and India were the highlight of the second edition.Actor/Director Nazeerudheensha inaugurated the second edition on 20 December 2009. Apart from Afro-Asian plays, seminars included Director in Dialogue, Traditional Performances, Malayalam Theatre Panorama, Music Crossover and film screenings ofHabibTanvir, Mayerhold’s Biomechanics and Rhythm, PinaBaush, Jerzy Grotowski, and Suzuki Training: An introductory file.

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Held from December 22-31, 2008, ITFoK 2008 was the first edition of the festival that focused on Asian Theatre. Opening with a spectacular show of Chinese Opera, the festival displayed a National and Malayalam panorama, along with plays from SAARC. The event was highly productive as it was experienced not only through the performances, but also through the seminars, interactive sessions and exhibitions. Theatre activists across the country descended on Thrissur in droves. Theatre lovers of all backgrounds inundated the temporary auditorium in which the evening shows were held. Not only the venue of festival, but the entire city of Thrissur wore a festive look for plays from China, Iran, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal. Plays from India were also a part of the maiden edition. During ITFoK2008, M.A. Baby served as Chief Patron, BharathMuralias Chairman, and Dr. PrabhakaranPazhassi asSecretary. The Festival Director for the first edition was pioneered by J. Shailaja, a Kerala born Theatre practitioner. Prof. P Gangadharan completed his administrative task as the previous secretary of KSNA.

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Deepan Sivaraman- Artistic Director, 2014

curatorial note

Transition has always been momentous in the evolution of human civilization. Overtime, the art world has undergone a series of transitions before reaching the juncture at which we are all right now. Change will push through even if we build an iron wall of conventional arguments backed up by history or tradition to oppose its wave. Contemporary modern theatre in many parts of the world is on a cross road of shift which has moved away from the notions of conventional drama and increasingly becoming more of a hybrid performance art form. Indian theatre has been a little reluctant to accept this change partially because of its colonial hangover of traditional text centered proscenium based drama. As we are riding through the 21st century,it’s high time we moved from the baggage of old fashioned conventional theatre, and bring in theatre practice that is responsive to the contemporary socio-political scenario. For Indian theatre, it is highly imperative to have exposure to new theatre happening around the world, and it’s the right time to have a meaningful debate surrounding it, as we take a re-look into our own contemporary theatre practices. Therefore in 2014, different from previous years, crossing the continental borders ITFoK will have a curatorial focus on cutting edge theatre practice that challenges the notion of conventional drama and viewership. It will be a curtain raiser for welcoming 21st century world theatre where the strict boundaries of theatre and visual art are slowly fading, and a new form of post dramatic theatre is emerging. The sixth ITFoK has been scheduled to be held from 27 Jan to 3 Feb 2014 at Thrissur in Kerala.In a break from previous editions Itfok2014 will be theme based. Transition and Gender are the themes focused in this edition of the festival.

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The concept of ‘transition’ will be the center theme of ITFoK 2014. ITFOK 2014 invites productions which challenge the notion of conventional drama and offer a new experience in seeing. The curatorial board is also keen on having a pool of productions with an alternative scenographic language, preferably meant for open air and street. In response to the heinous rapes and atrocities against woman, children, transsexuals and homosexuals in India and else where we also aim to have a section of productions which deal with the issue of GENDER.

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Itfok 2014 Curatorial Board Members Neelam Mansingh, Abhilash Pillai, D. Reghuthaman, Sajitha Madathil, Deepan Sivaraman . Chief Patrons Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister, Govt, of Kerala KC Joseph, Minister for Culture, Govt, of Kerala V S Achudanandan, Leader, Opposition Patrons CN Balakrishnan, Minister for Co-Operation PC Chacko, MP KP Danapalan,MP PK Biju, MP I P Paul, Mayor, Thrissur Therembil Ramakrishnan MLA TN Prathapan, MLA K. Radhakrishnan, MLA Babu M Palissery, MLA VS Sunilkumar, ML A Rani George I A S, Secretary to Culture, Govt of Kerala MS Jaya, District Collector, Thrissur Chairman & Festival Director Sooryakrishnamoorthy +919846013536 Secretary & General Convener Dr PV Krishnan Nair +919495982420 Vice Chairman TM Abraham +919447573686 Artistic Director Deepan sivaraman +919891367938 Co-Ordinator V Sasikumar +919656415773 Technical Director Sreejith Ramanan +919947020742 Administrative Officer (KSNA) C K Haridasan +91 9447534080 Program Officer (KSNA) Rajeevan AV +91 9387115485 Co-Ordinator-Itfok Office Amruthlal T (Shaan) +919037564145

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Chairman and festival director Sooryakrishnamoorthy with minister for culture KC Joseph.

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Secretary Dr PV KrishnanNair (left) and Vice Chairman TM Abraham.

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Chairman Mukesh and Shri Badal Sircar

M A Baby, Hn. Minister Culture and Shri Gireesh Karnad

Festival Director Abhilash Pilla,Right, with Nazrudhin Sha

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Festival Director - Ms. Shylaja -2008

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Chaiman Bharath Murali Secretary Dr. Prabhakaran Pazhassi (right) with Chairman

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International Theatre Festival of Kerala Phone (Itfok office): +91 487 2322 734 www.theatrefestivalkerala.com E-mail: [email protected], [email protected]

Technical queries: [email protected] Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Chembukkavu, Thrissur-20, Kerala, India Phone (office): +91 487 2332 134, 2332 548

E-mail: [email protected] www.keralasangeethanatakaakademi.com

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