Line Reading Session: DAY 4

The last day, alas!!..the scintillating performances by the colleges is coming to an end as we culminate the Line Reading Session for AYTW,2010. But, these were just the prelims..the main part is yet to come!! So sit back and enjoy the show.

The teams for the day were 10 in number.

The opening team was RAMJAS COLLEGE which came up with its stage production "Fools". The play's humour represents the political czarist Russia. It has a good entertainment quotient and also the setting employs the audience as part of the play, therefore some of the characters hover within the audiences blurring the lines of theatricality and reality.

KAMLA NEHRU COLLEGE's "Frihet: a montage on Ibsen's women" Frihet is freedom and as the name suggests it amalgamates the women characters in Ibsen's various plays into this one play. The play talks about the freedom of thought and expression. As one character meets the other in the play, the incidents which have occured in their lives (in Ibsen's plays)are discussed. The play is set in 16 century. The stage design and costumes is defined to be grand by the performers.

Next on the list is GARGI COLLEGE with its play "Anahata". Anahata, the play deals with the character of a young girl of 17 named Anahata. The play begins with an incestual relationship and how the woman becomes pregnant with her cousin's child. She was just 16 when this happened. The resort she is forced to take is to keep the child in an orphanage. The play consists of songs and mimes as well.

"Jashn" A street play by KAMLA NEHRU COLLEGE is a celebratory note to the people who are pessimistic about India and its future. This self scripted play emphasises on the need of an optimist outlook. The approach to see a glass half full rather than half empty is shown through the play. It is celebrating the youth optimism and how "be the change" shoud be the slogan of the day.

ASMITA THEATRE GROUP (Weekend theatre) presented their play " Ek Aur Trasadi". The play is based on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy event. The events that took place then and even now people are suffering the consequences as they suffer permanent irrereversible damages in the form of genetic deformities and other physical and mental handicaps in the second generation. But how many of us remember the tragedy now? The play talks of how the human memory is short lived . It also highlights the propoganda of bungling in compensation money by the senior govt. officials.

RAMJAS COLLEGE's stage prodution "Look Back In Anger" is a play by John Osbourne. The play brings out the ideals of Osborne's bygone era. The "angst" and "the angry young man" are relived again on the stage. The milieu is the same as Osborne's and the setting is that of room which has been an effective tool to build up the tension.

Another production by RAMJAS COLLEGE is "Peele Scooter Wala Aadmi". The script is inspired by that of playwright Manav Kaul. The story is about the writer who tries to write and his attempts to writing are distrupted by his father's abrupt death. The play evolves and depicts the relation of yellow two wheeler to its characters. How the object plays a pivotal role in the life of the protagonist is established during the course of the play.

S.G.T.B. COLLEGE came next and presented its stage play "Hawalat" (Hindi). The play dabbles with an interesting theme where the three imaginary characters in the form of three young men pose certain radical philosophical questions to a policeman who enters their periphery. The three young men are symbolic of the "tattered conscience of the masses". The script is inspired by the playwright Viswa Dyal Saxena. The play explores the relation between the administrator and the commoners. Everytime the system tries to create an illusion that it is including the "commoners", but they always remain excluded and here lies the cunning. "Hawalat" is a metaphor for the system itself and how the young men in the play are keen on entering the domain of the"Hawalat" but are unable to do so.

"Baazar" the street play by S.G.T.B. KHALSA COLLEGE is a play which talks of the commodification of human body in terms of buying and selling of the body organs, exploiting women who are turned Devadasis, by force. The play projects the man made scars in the form of human trafficking and how the class and caste is exploited in different ways showing the ugly face of human race.

The last play for the prelims marking the culmination of the AYTW,2010 was presented by VENKATESHWARA COLLEGE which came up with their street play "Dhappa, Teri Den". The play talks about the treatment given to the "accused" and the "convicts" who are sent to observation homes and juvenile homes. The brutal treatment of the staff towards the young "criminals" is explored through the course of the play. The play ideates that how "once a criminal is always a criminal" and there is no scope for them to live in a society which equates everything in terms of binaries like the "good" and the "evil".

On behalf of the AYTW TEAM (2010) I would like to thank all of you who have contributed and helped us in making this event a grand event.

We look forward to your presence in our future events as well AND THE MAIN EVENT (THE AYT WEEK nOV.14 TO nOV 22) is here to come.

CHEERS!!

LINE READING SESSION: DAY 3

DAY 3 - LRS - AYTW 2010

Its almost like an ongoing riot of vibrance at the AYTW2010!!

There were 10 participating teams for the day.

The opening team was HINDU COLLEGE (Masque) which presented its stage production "Johny Doesnt Know " which is an adaptation of the english playwright Mike Bartlett's Cock.

The next team was J.D.M.COLLEGE which presented its street play "Lahu Luhan- Dhai Akshar". The play is based on the theme of "honour killing". The play exhibits that how education is not the key determinant to keep these people away from killing their "own" in the name of "honour". It also reflects on the present status of khap panchayats, known to many. The play talks about the importance of change in terms of thinking so that a more tolerant society can be built.

HANSRAJ COLLEGE put up a show with its play " Clatta' " by Danish playwright Kaj Himmelstrup. The play's name has been derived from the two prime characters in the play Claud and Atta.The play setting is that of a court room and it is a satire on the judicial system and its functioning.The play is contextualised in the period of world war 2. How the criminal wants to be punished for the war-crime he commits but is saved each time by the court of law as he is not found guilty. It mocks at several issues like the nature of the guilt and motive of the crime. The ease with which the state bends the "laws" of the law system to suit itself being the most important.

HANSRAJ COLLEGE presented with another production "Hajismail's Second Marriage". It is a bilingual play and is a satire on polygamy. It touches upon the issue that how people misuse the religion to fulfil their own means. The play is scripted by Mohd. Junaid Ansari. It depicts the male chauvanism along with class bias. The narrative moves in the lines of how the protagonist of the play being a rich "illeterate" businessman is able to exploit a poor girl of fifteen for his own sexual gratification by deciding to marry her, despite having a family of his own.

The next in the row was I.P. COLLEGE (for women), The team came forward with their street play "Soch Ka Dayra". The play primarily deals with the limited thinking which many people tend to possess and its repurcussions on the society.It is about how we "assume" and "generalise" without giving a second thought. The play explores the theme by picking several instances from our day to day lives.

HANSRAJ COLLEGE's street play "Inquilab" is a self scripted play in hindi and encapsulates a collage of issues like ignorance,greed, honour killing, terrorism etal. The play though dealing with multiple issues tries to get to the root of the issues it is addressing. It is heavy on rhetorics. The end part of the play is "koshish". The play ends on the note of hope and emphasises on the fact that "thinking is a weapon", use it.

Next came,

HINDU COLLEGE with its play "Kashmakash"(Hindi). The play is inspired by Sadat Hasan Manto's "Is Majhdar mein". It is about two unconnected and incomplete souls and how these two characters deal with it. The play also dabbles with the theme of how one incident can change the course of your life. An interesting feature of the play is that it is in the form of a diary entry.

"Kyun Karein" is a street play by HINDU COLLEGE which talks about questioning the self before questioning others. The question "why shoud i?" is being explored through the play. The play depicts that how it is important to do your part, if one really wants things to change.

HANSRAJ COLLEGE's stage production "Firangi Laut Aaye" by the playwright Asghar Wajahat is a play set in the time of 1857, India. The play captures the revolutionary fervour of the time.It talks about the reasons for our defeat and the symbolic significance of the"red lotus flower". The deceit of fellow Indians kept India from attaining indepencence has also been represented through the play.

S.R.C.C. came next with its psychological thriller, the play named "Samar".The two principal characters in the play are that of a psychiatrist and a drug smuggler. The play revolves around how these two characters influence each other. The psychiatrist turns into a drug addict as his psyche is overpowered by the drug smuggler. The blurring of the black and the white in the play through the portrayal of these two characters is the highlight of this play.

Line Reading Session : DAY 3

Hello again!!

Its almost like an ongoing riot of vibrance at the prelims of AYTW2010!!

There were ten partcipating teams for the day.

The opening team was HINDU COLLEGE (Masque) presenting its stage production "Johnny Doesn't Know" which is an adaptation of Cock by an English playwright Mike Bartlett.

J.D.M.C. presented its street play "Lahu Luhaan-Dhai Akshar". The play is based on the theme of "honour killing". The play exihibits that how education is not a key determinant in terms of stopping these people from killing their "own"in the name of honour. It reflects on the present status of khap panchayats, known to many. The play also talks about the importance of change in thinking and working towards it in order to be able to garner a better and tolerant society.

DAY 2 - AYTW 2010 - 8 scripts Long day...

Day 1 continues with 11 Teams...

Line Reading Session : DAY 2

Hi all!!

Its been a great going today as well. The line reading session at arts faculty consisted of a total of 7 teams.

The teams were well prepared and presented their plays with immense passion.

The first participating college team SRI GURU GOBIND SINGH COLLEGE OF COMMERCE presented their play "Kyunki Main Hindu Hoon" which primarily is a political statement reflecting upon the Hindu-Muslim community.

Then came,

I.P. COLLEGE (for women) and their play "Cut It Out" which is originally written by British playwright Trevor Suthers. The play revolves around the two female protagonists who are twin sisters and how their biased upbringing affects their lookout. The play also vacillates between the illusion and reality through the prop of a mirror used in the play.

L.S.R COLLEGE (for women)'s play "Veronica's Room" written by an American playwright Ira Levin is a psychological thriller. The play is about playing with people's illusions. "Transformation" is at the core of the play as switching from one character to the other bears the essence of the play.

DYAL SINGH COLLEGE's stage play "Uski Udaan" written and directed by one of the members of the team Nihal Parashar. The play is experimental and explores the feminist perspective situating it in varied settings and challenging the traditional viewpoint. The setting consists of Indian mythology as well as contemporary India. The play also touches upon issues of caste and class bias.

ROOBAROO ( an independent theatre group)'s street play "Bandi" explores the situation of female prostitutes in our country. The commodification of female body and how prostitutes are a marginalised section of the society is a loud known fact. The play explores that how the media, political and economic influence along with societal pressure affects them and how a certain section of people deliberately negate their presence in the society. The play addresses to the cause of a dignified life for the prostitutes by treating them as equals in the society and not terming them as 'untouchables' or 'unpious'.

L.S.R. COLLEGE (for women)'s street play "Woh Main Tha Ya Woh" is a play which talks about the mob behaviour. The play is in Hindustani dialect and rummages that how the psyche of an individual gets clouded as one becomes a part of the mob. The play cites situations where history has witnessed brutal riots and mass blood shed . The sad part of these riots is that how the "faceless" and shameless mob cannot be pinned down for the crime they commit. Mob is like a garb which masks the cannibalistic characterstics of an individual.

The last show of the day was put up by DEEN DYAL UPADHYAY COLLEGE with their play "Soi Subah Ki Khoi Dastaan"
The play interrogates into the present situation of "education" in India. It also talks about the monopolisation of educational institutes and how the "western concept" of education has braindrained us which has made us lose the essence of education itself. The names of the characters in the play are symbolic. The play talks about the conspiracy and corruption which is demeaning the relevance of education to mere collection of degrees from "expensive" universities.

TWO MORE DAYS TO GO !!

KEEP CHECKING THIS SPACE FOR MORE INFO. ABOUT THE MOST HAPPENING YOUTH THEATRE EVENT OF THE CITY!!

Line Reading Session : DAY ONE

Dear Theatre Enthusiasts !

The Line Reading Session @ Arts Faculty went well and the participating teams were exuding tremendous potential and talent.

There were 8 participating teams ranging from stage to street theatre on DAY 1

S.R.C.C. was the first to showcase its talent through its bilingual theatre society. Their play "The Experiment" explored the theme of fear and chaos and how it affects the lives of the characters in the play. How the characters are stuck on "terror", "tremor", "quiver", "confined", "bound", "dark" and how these "words" afflict them.
The stage design being a room and how each character feels entrapped adds to the tension in the play.

KIRORI MAL COLLEGE 's street play - "Kuch Mat Bolo"
The students took up a topical issue and presented it with panache. The sensitive issue of honour killing was dealt well as they not only depicted the traditional viewpoint of how honour killing is associated with "honour/respect" and "justice" for the family involved in the killing but also presented the alternate viewpoint where they depicted the "pressure" and societal norm which leads them to commit such a crime and how "Resistance" to such societal pressure is important to realise the value of a human life.
The play explores the meaning of "honour" and how the society burdens the woman with the baggage of "honour".

MAITREYI COLLEGE's Stage Play - "O IBSEN"
Maitreyi college's musical play performed in regional dialect consisted of three songs within the play. The play is addressing Henrik Ibsen, the famous norwegianian playwright, also referred to as " the father of modern drama".
The highlights of the play are the three songs which capture the mood of the play,where the last song is said to be portraying Ibsen's life itself.

KIRORI MAL COLLEGE's stage play "Heart's Desire"
It is a "Resetting" of Mohan Rakesh's Half Way House, drawing inspiration from Caryl Churcill's Heart's Desire. The main theme in the play is that of "resetting". The play digs into the parts of the play which the playwright Mohan Rakesh left unexplored. There are elements of absurdity in the play creating moments of chaos and introspection.

KIRORI MAL COLLEGE's stage play " Shakkar ke Paanch Daane"
The script of this play has been inspired from the playwright Manav Kaul's script. The play explores the lives of five characters in the play. The play expresses the protagonist's life in terms of his limited perspective and lack of understanding. His inability to comprehend is another important trait which affects his character. The play is an exploration of this character and how his 'play with the ants' becomes the principle metaphor in the play.

S.R.C.C. 's comedy "The Inheritance of Jhun Jhun Wala" is an interplay of sexual tension and comic farce. The play depicts the protagonist's nuisance over his sexual prowess and how this would affect him in inheriting his father's will.

KIRORI MAL COLLEGE's play "Class Enemy"
This play is an adaptation of Nigel Williams. The protagonist of the play belongs to Bihar and from a lower caste. His struggle to survive in a biased society and his obsession with "breaking windows" has been depicted through the play.

S.R.C.C.'s Street play "Khel"
The play hinges on depicing the corrupt sports organisations in the country and how it affects the players to come up and compete internationally. The emphasis is on treating sports activities without being biased. The issue addressed is to provide opportunities and facilities to the deserving and not to the people who bribe the officials and "become" players.

WELCOME TO THE LINE READING SESSIONS FOR AYTW2010, DELHI

LINE READING SESSIONS (List of participating colleges)

Hi Guys!


The list of participating colleges on respective days of the line reading sessions is as follows:

Day 1 (27th Oct.)

Maitreyi College
S.R.C.C.
Kirori Mal College
Lady Sri Ram College
Venkateshwara College

Day 2 (28th Oct.)

Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce
I.P. College (for women)
Lady Irwin College
Deen Dyal Upadhyay College
Lady Sri Ram College
Dyal Singh College.

Day 3 (29th Oct.)

Hindu College
Janki Devi MahaVidyalaya (J.D.M.C.)
Hansraj College
I.P. College (for women)
Non-college group

Day 4 (30th Oct)

Kamla Nehru College
Gargi College
Asmita weekend theatre group
Ramjas College
S.G.T.B. Khalsa College

Note: Most of the participating colleges have more than one production. Also there are colleges which have more than one dramatics society (bilingual).

Looking forward to seeing you at the venue(s).

For more updates, keep checking this space.

AYTW2010 (Delhi)

LINE READING SESSIONS (AYTW 2010, DELHI)

Hi Folks!!

Atelier is back with its fourth episode of a week long theatre extravaganza...Thanking all the theatre enthusiasts for their active participation and tremendous response... as this time it gets bigger and better.. We have scrutinised 37 teams for now....so join in and enjoy the show.

The line reading sessions for AYTW2010 are scheduled as follows :

October 27th and 28th : Students centre amphitheatre, Faculty of Arts, Delhi University.
(3 p.m. onwards)

October 29th : Venkateshwara College, Delhi University.
(1 p.m. onwards)

October 30th : Kamla Nehru College, Delhi University.
(3 p.m. onwards)


IMPORTANT:
Kindly get a hard copy of the form along with the script. We would also require a soft copy of the form and the script alongwith the pictures of the production/rehearsal. Any newspaper clippings or relevant documents are welcome.

Contact Pragati Bhalla (9899854583) for your slots and any further assistance.

AND...For upcoming info. please keep looking at this space.

Call for Volunteers for AYTW 2010 (Delhi & Mumbai)

Dear Theatre Enthusiasts and Aspirants.


The Movement - AYTW - has moved from Delhi (Nov 14-22) to Mumbai (Dec 4-7) in 2010 to showcase the best of efforts by the campus and professional teams.


Atelier Theatre looks forward to have you as volunteers to make this happen. If you see yourself here, register yourself with Harneet Suri (Operations) - 9810565151/ harneetsuri@atelierexpressions.com
Team AYTW 2010


www.atelierexpressions.com

ATELIER'S 4th Youth Theatre Week 2010