Kolkata all set to get Stumped!

Napa’s Repertory Theatre will be performing their cricket-themed play at theatre festivals in India

KARACHI:

A few months ago the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) hosted the International Theatre Festival, which saw a few drama troupes from India crossing the border. Now it seems like Napa is all set to return the favour by taking their play, Stumped! to Kolkata and New Delhi. Speaking to The Express Tribune from New Delhi, artistic director NRT Zain Ahmed remarked that the whole troupe was in ‘high spirits’. There were a lot of uncertainties involved but after several days of delay, they finally got their visas.

“The entire cast and crew is really positive feeling positive. We are heading for Kolkata where we will have our first performance, after which we will return to Delhi for another one,before returning to Pakistan on June 12,” said Ahmed. Set against the backdrop of cricket, the play is unlike the previous musicals and biopics which have gone to India Shakuntala and Manto, and may prove to be Napa’s ideal export to the cricket-crazy nation.

Sunil Shankar, who is one of the few cast members to have missed out on the journey to India due to prior commitments in Pakistan, said that the play would prove to be a great learning curve for those involved.

“Performing in India will be a tremendous learning experience for all those involved as the theatre culture over there is more vibrant in comparison to Pakistan. They should be ready to perform in front of crowds of approximately 600 to 700,” said Shankar.



According to Shankar, who has been replaced by Hammad Siddiq in the play, such cultural exchanges should continue to take place especially given the camaraderie they share with their Indian counterparts. “Even we enjoyed working with Indian artistes in Tum Kaun which was staged at the International Theatre Festival.”

Stumped! was submitted to the National School of Drama’s theatre festival last year but was not selected. At the same time, the play was invited to a theatre festival in Kolkata, which they were unable to attend due to visa issues.

The play revolves around Chicu, the captain of the Kabristani cricket team. Chicu is all set to fix the World Cup final between Kabristan and India which is supposed to take place the following morning. He invites the young star bowler of the team, Sam, to tell him to play against the team as the match has been fixed. Sam now faces a dilemma of whether to fulfill the dream of bringing Pakistan some glory or follow what his captain has asked him to for obvious financial gains. Faani, who is the other star of the team, declines Chicu’s offer of becoming a part of the plan and chooses to play for the team and for the hopes of Kabristanis. What follows is an engaging tale of politics, conspiracies, sentiments and existential dilemmas.

The play has been directed by Zain Ahmed and written by Imran Yusuf, former sports editor of The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 6^th, 2015.

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