Excelsior Correspondent
New Delhi, Feb 12: The 25th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the prestigious international theatre festival organized by the National School of Drama (NSD), witnessed a mesmerizing performance of Euripides’ timeless classic, The Bacchae, staged by Samooh Theatre. Under the meticulous direction of Ravinder Sharma, this adaptation infused the ancient Greek tragedy with a contemporary essence, captivating audiences with its dynamic storytelling and compelling performances.Theatre enthusiasts flocked to the Mandi House crossing in New Delhi as Bharat Rang Mahotsav celebrated its milestone year with a grand showcase of over 200 productions from nine countries, staged across 13 locations in India, Nepal and Sri Lanka. This year’s festival, themed One Expression, Supreme Creation, welcomed NSD alumnus and celebrated actor Rajpal Yadav as its ‘Rang Doot’ (festival ambassador). Adding to its global reach, the festival also launched Vishwa Jan Rang, an ambitious theatre initiative designed to engage audiences worldwide.The Bacchae narrates the dramatic tale of divine retribution and human folly, unfolding in the city of Thebes. Dionysus, denied godhood by the Thebans, exacts his vengeance by driving the city’s women into a frenzied worship of him in the mountains. Disguised as a mortal, he leads a group of Bacchants from the east. Despite warnings from Cadmus and Tiresias, the Theban ruler Pentheus refuses to accept Dionysus’ divinity and imprisons him. However, Dionysus escapes using his divine powers and lures Pentheus into disguising himself as a woman to witness the Bacchic rituals. Under the god’s influence, Pentheus’ own mother, Agaue, tragically mistakes him for a lion and kills him. In a chilling climax, Dionysus reveals his true identity and punishes Thebes for its defiance.The production’s stellar cast delivered power-packed performances, bringing the characters to life with intensity and emotion. The cast of play including Devanshu Raina and Avinash Lakhnotra as Dionysus, Ajay Tamang as Tiresias, Diksha Pandita as Agave, Soham Kashyap as Cadmus, Gautam Kumar as Messenger 1, Radhika Sharma as Messenger 2 and Sandeep Manhas as Pentheus, delivered powerful performances that brought the characters to life. The chorus, played by Rohan Sharma, Gorav Singh Manha and Sheina Singh, Pooravi Shrama, Akash Katoch and Nitesh Kumar in supporting cast added depth and emotion to the narrative.
The backbone of this production, led by writer Euripides, showcased the collaborative efforts of the talented team of Mentor Dr. Sudhir Mahajan Set Designer Rohit Bains, Light Designer Aditya Bharti, Make-up artist Shammi Damir & Anita Chanpuri. Ravinder Sharma’s multifaceted role as translator, costume designer and director ensured a seamless and visually stunning presentation. Pooja Sharma handled the music well.
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