IMPHAL, Jan 19 � The 10-day Khundongbam Brojendro Theatre Festival with the theme �Theatre for Peace and Friendship� began at the newly-opened Maharaja Chandrakirti Auditorium at Palace Compound here yesterday.
The festival, organised by Khundongbam Brojendro Cultural Trust (KBC Trust) in collaboration with the State Department of Art and Culture, will conclude on January 28.
State Education Minister Moirangthem Okendro and Art & Culture Commissioner RK Nimai attended the inaugural function. Dr Nimai expressed the need to re-establish drama, the dying art forms of the State and the theatre movement in Manipur. �The participation of the Myanmar theatre team in the festival will certainly give a new taste to the theatre activists of the State�, Dr Nimai observed.
Eight theatre groups including groups from Myanmar and Bangalore will participate in the festival. On the first day, Rupmahal Theatre' staged �Bor Interview�.
Noted playwright Khundongbam Brojendro had written 64 plays, 15 radio dramas, eight Shumang Leela plays and released four audio cassettes during his career. The important social issues of the region were reflected in most of his plays and dramas.
Besides theatre groups from Myanmar and Bangalore, one play each from Tangkhul and Kabui theatre groups will also be performed in the fest.
The cultural programmes, theatre and post-show talk will be the highlights of the ongoing festival.
