Varsity to host women theatre artistes for international meet

MUMBAI: Having travelled to the US, Australia, Ireland, Greece and the Philippines in its previous avatars, the VIII International Women's Playwright Conference (WPI) has now come to India. Women theatre artistes from all over the world will descend on the Kalina campus of Mumbai University for play readings, performances and discussions, between November 1 and 7.
WPI 2009 is being jointly organised by the Stree Mukti Sanghatana, an NGO that promotes the empowerment of women through the mediums of songs and plays, and the Academy of Theatre Arts, Mumbai University's theatre training institute.
Keeping in line with WPI 2009's theme of `Liberty and Tolerance', the plays being showcased are the ones that have been written around these concepts. Thus, the audience can expect an insight into the identity issues of people living in contemporary Nagaland (`Technicolour Dreams 2') or empathise with the mothers, wives and sisters of Manipur, who grieve for their lost men (`Rickshaw And Gun'). "The reason we came up with the theme this year is self-evident given the current world situation,'' said Jyoti Mhapsekar, the coordinator for WPI 2009.
Ruing the dearth of women playwrights, Mhapsekar said WPI 2009 would give a glimpse into the world of women theatre artistes. Accordingly, lectures and panel discussions have been planned for actors, directors and writers, with talks on the `pain and pleasure of women directors', `challenges of modern acting', `theatre with a difference' and `future hope in theatre'.
"Among the 100 or so international delegates who are expected to attend, we have Ratna Sarumpaet from Jakarta, who figured predominantly in the struggle against former president of Indonesia Suharto. Also participating is Lia Gladstone, an American who has been doing theatre in Afghanistan,'' added Mhapsekar.
Shabana Azmi will preside over the inaugural session of WPI 2009.