5 plays to watch at the inaugural edition of Hyderabad’s Manam Theatre Festival

'Biryani aur Haleem' by Sutradhar at Manam Theatre Festival, Hyderabad.

The coming four weekends in Hyderabad are going to be packed with theatre performances as Manam Theatre Festival makes its debut in the Charminar city. Four visiting troupes and four local troupes from Hyderabad will present 18 shows across different venues over these four weekends starting from November 24. The month-long festival is being presented by The We_Us Collective, an initiative of the Almond House Foundation. Apart from the performances in Hindi, English and Telugu, there are fringe events such as talks with the theatre troupes and workshops as well as live music. Harika Vedula, the curator and organiser of the Manam Theatre Festival, shares that the festival’s aim is to present platforms for conversation and discussion on the various ways that art can be created. Here's our pick of the plays to watch at the inaugural edition of the month-long theatre festival:

About Ram by KatKatha

About Ram by KatKatha at Manam Theatre Festival, Hyderabad.

Under Anurupa Roy’s direction, the Delhi based puppetry troupe Katkatha’s About Ram is inspired by a Balinese version of the Ramayana. Anurupa Roy, Pawan Waghmare, Mohammad Shameem and Avinash Kumar star in the musical that uses animation, digitally-projected dance, masks and puppets to tell the human-centric, tragic love story. The experimental theatre piece uses excerpts from Bhavbhuti’s Ramayana.

November 25, 4.30 pm and 8 pm; NIFT Auditorium, Hitech City

Bali by Adishakti

Bali by Adishakti at Manam Theatre Festival, Hyderabad.

Puducherry’s Adishakti written and directed by Nimmy Raphel is a retelling of the various events that led up to the battle between Bali and Ram, and eventually, the death of Bali. The 75 minutes-long play explores the notion of right or wrong and how it may change when each character is given an opportunity to voice their thoughts and opinions. In the English play, Bali, Sugriva, Angadh, Ram and Ravan are given moments to present their different viewpoints.

December 2, 4.30 pm and 8 pm

NIFT Auditorium, Hitech City

Afghanistan is Not Funny by Henry Naylor

'Afghanistan is not Funny' by Henry Naylor at Manam Theatre Festival, Hyderabad.

The multi-award-winning playwright from UK and photographer Sam Maynard visited Afghanistan soon after 9/11 in order to research for the comedy project Finding Bin Laden but it was their experiences in the Afghan war zone which have prompted this docu-play. The critically-acclaimed production is a monologue which was written a year after the Taliban took over Kabul, against the backdrop of Maynard’s photographs.

December 10, 4 pm and 7.30 pm

District 150, Madhapur

Biryani aur Haleem by Sutradhar

The one-hour play in Dakhani by the Hyderabad based group is about two beggars Salim and Javed who embark on a comical journey to survive. In their quest for food, they come across a special Biryani meant for a Nawab. The adaptation of The Pie & The Tart by Hugh Chesterman is directed by Deepti Girotra and has a cast that includes Ahmed Quraishi, Sattya Bhagat Reddy, Rahim Amir Ali Lalani and Deepti Girotra.

December 15, 7.30 pm

Rangbhoomi Spaces, Gachibowli

Elephant in the Room by Dur Se Brothers

'Elephant in the Room' by Dur Se Brothers at Manam Theatre Festival, Hyderabad.

Directed and performed by Yuki Elias, this three META-award-winning play comes to the festival with a story of a young boy who has been given a new elephant head. Inspired by Indian mythology, the story follows the journey of Master Tusk who goes through a life-changing adventure on his quest for his missing head. The quirky and poignant coming-of-age story is part fantastical and part philosophical.

December 17, 4.30 pm and 8 pm

MCRHRD, Jubilee Hills