Delhi IBSEN Festival

THE GENESIS OF THE DELHI IBSEN FESTIVAL

Ibsen is respected and celebrated in India for the great playwright, the dramatist as well as a critic of the establishment he belonged to. I was, therefore, convinced that in the field of cultural cooperation between our two countries, Ibsen should be a focal point of departure for almost any dialogue.

In early 2008, the Embassy started consulting DADA about holding an Ibsen festival, which would be different and special and not just an other festival in the Capital. The event should consist of exciting plays, branching out in various fields of the arts and lead to an inspiring series of events. It is our intent to contribute to make Delhi Ibsen Festival into a distinct annual festival which can grow and expand over time and include other cultural expressions.

Ann Ollestad
Ambassador of Norway to India

FESTIVAL DIRECTOR

Productions of Ibsen have made many new inroads into world theatre in recent years and for us in India too, he is an important playwright to re-explore in a contemporary context.

I was convinced that Ibsen’s writings could mean a great deal in the contemporary Indian scenario, of a young democracy, grappling with a new social and political order. Urbanism in India, was like the country itself - a culture in transition. All three commissioned productions prgdfesented this year have found their metaphors in theatre from different stylistic genres presenting them in a ‘modern’ Indian context.

I have no doubt that a specialist theatre festival like this one will continue to enlighten our audiences in the years to come.

Nissar Allana
Director, The Dramatic Art & Design Academy

Since 2008, The Dramatic Art & Design Academy (DADA) has been responsible for instituting the Delhi Ibsen Theatre Festival, which takes place in December each year, under the auspices of the Norwegian Embassy. DADA is now making preparations for the second Delhi Ibsen Festival in December 2009.

Ibsen's contribution to Indian theatre from the 1930's to the mid-1960's had undoubtedly been seminal, but his writing has a different resonance in the contemporary scenario.

Another development in Indian theatre is the growing role of theatre academic in the university context. DADA has taken a pioneering step in this direction, bringing together academics and theatre practitioners in 2008, whereby academics are commissioned to work in close proximity with the director.

The working process was presented and discussed last year at a seminar. By providing each group with dramaturgical infrastructure, again in 2009, we hope to offer catalytic support, so as to create a more organic dialogue between the two.

One of the highlights of the Delhi Ibsen Festival 2009, is the decision to present the work of 4 young directors from diverse backgrounds, with well-defined individual preferences and a predominantly modern approach. The festival also celebrates plays from many Asian countries, which will present an Asian Inter-cultural perspective, rather than looking at Ibsen from a Western standpoint.

Website developed by: KITINFINET