Stage set for first theatre fest post-pandemic in Kozhikode

Event being held in memory of director Shanthakumar

As Kozhikode gets ready for its first theatre festival post-pandemic, eight theatre groups are sweating it out to give their best performance at the Town Hall on December 3 and 4. “Shanthanormma”, the short play festival is being organised by Theatre Culture, a collective of theatre groups in the district, that is determined to wake the theatre circuit from its one-and-half-years of slumber.

“Shanthanormma” is being organised in memory of theatre and film director A.Shanthakumar, who passed away not so long ago. The eight theatre groups that are part of the Theatre Culture Collective are Edakkad Nataka Gramam, Red Young ‘Manchadikkuru’, Vellimadukunnu, Natakam Pookkunna Kadu, Kozhikode Theatre Lovers, Repertory Theatre, Parambil, Actors Group Exploration, Creative Group, Mannur and Nadakathara from Pilathara.

The plays, most of which are less than 30 minutes, being staged in the two-day festival are ‘Theen Muriyile Durantham’, ‘Award’, ‘Aro Oral’, ‘Museum of Love’, ‘Kathi’, ‘Cheru’, ‘Kothi’ and ‘Namukku Jeevitham Parayam’. The intervals between the plays will be filled with talks on theatre by noted theatre activists. ‘Aro Oral’, a play written by A.Shanthakumar, is being brought to stage by Theatre Lovers.