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The schedule for the interactions at the Nepal International Theatre Festival (Netfest), which will begin on Wednesday, Chait 6, has been made public. According to the schedule released by the organizers, the week-long festival will feature discussions on various topics, including theater, art and culture, cinema, media, policy, and politics.
The festival, which will take place at Mandala Theatre, Thapagaun, carries the slogan, “Theatre for Social Transformation: The Light of Indigenous Knowledge.”
On the second day of the festival, Thursday, an interaction will focus on this very theme. A close conversation between scholars Bhogiraj Chamling and Gurung Sushant will be held under the title “The Light of Indigenous Knowledge.”
In line with the discussions, on Friday, there will be a session on the relationship between Nepali theatre and cinema. The session will feature Nischal Basnet, Keki Adhikari, Deepak Rauniyar, and Ashant Sharma.
On Saturday, there will be a discussion on the importance and presentation of theatre in the media. The session titled “Theatre in the Media” will have editors Santgaha Magar, Janak Raj Sapkota, and journalist Poonam Paudel sharing their experiences.
Sunday’s session, titled “Political Art,” is another key part of the festival. Former culture minister Sadan Kiranti, youth leader Ramkumari Jhankri, and Thakur Gaire will share their views.
Another anticipated session at the festival is “Sitting in the Shadows,” on Monday, where two generations of talented artists, Harivansh Acharya and Vijay Baral, will engage in a conversation.
The final session of the festival is particularly special: “Singh Durbar in Every Village, Theatre in Every Place.” This interaction will involve mayors from various regions of the country and will explore the expansion of theatre in the context of federalism.
Along with these interactive sessions, there will be a special lecture by Bhikkhu Anand, the festival coordinator, Kedar Shrestha, mentioned.
He said, “Theatre plays an important role not only in entertainment but also in knowledge creation. Therefore, we have prioritized relevant discussions from the first edition.” He emphasized that such debates are crucial for keeping human life, art, and democracy alive.
Festival director and actor Dayahang Rai mentioned that over a hundred artists from various countries will participate in the third edition of the festival. He added that Nepali art lovers will have the opportunity to learn a lot directly and indirectly from these artists. He further stated, “The workshops at these festivals are also special. This year, workshops will be held by artists from Scotland, China, and Germany.” He noted that such festivals provide a rare opportunity to learn new things from foreign expert artists.
This year’s Netfest will take place in four cities: Kathmandu, Pokhara, Bharatpur, and Belbari, in addition to Mandala Theatre in Kathmandu. More than 100 foreign artists are expected to attend the festival.
The festival will also include activities such as art exhibitions, music and dance performances. A total of 17 plays from 12 countries will be showcased during the event. The organizers claim that the festival prioritizes the promotion and transmission of traditional culture and folk culture. Folk dance, folk music, visual arts, and many other activities will be part of the festival, with an expectation of thousands of participants.
Netfest will run until Chait 12.
