Discovering the Magic of Theatre - Rohan Mudvari

Last month, the school where I work organized a large international theatre festival. Artists from various countries participated, making the event a tremendous success. They showcased their talent, creativity, and cultural heritage through their performances. I was genuinely amazed by how impactful and powerful those performances were. It was a completely new experience for me, as I had never fully realized how profound an influence theatre can have.

It’s not that I had never watched theatre before. I had seen 'Bahula Kaji ko Sapana' when I was in Grade 11, performed at Rastriya Nachghar, Jamal. However, that experience happened only because the play was part of our Nepali curriculum. At that time, I was just 17, and although I thoroughly enjoyed the play, it ended up taking another eight years for me to watch my next one.

During the school’s event, I watched performances from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Slovenia, and Japan. I considered the festival a significant cultural exchange. Some performances were humorous and made us laugh wholeheartedly, while others brought tears to our eyes. Certain performances—especially those from Japan—challenged our prejudices and perceptions. I also learned about art forms like puppetry, which I found incredibly enjoyable to watch.

After that week-long event, I fell in love with theatre and couldn’t resist the desire to watch another play. So, I went to Mandala Theatre to see Milarepa. I am grateful to my current workplace for helping me discover theatre culture and the profound impact it can have.

Mandala Theatre is one of Nepal’s most renowned and respected theatres. When you look at the broader perspective, many of Nepal’s celebrated actors—known for their exceptional performances—are products of theatre. Some examples include Dayahang Rai, Khagendra Lamichhane, Najir Hussein, Namrata Shrestha, Nischal Basnet, Saugat Malla, the legendary Ma-Ha Jodi, Buddhi Tamang, and many more.

Delivering such powerful performances with limited resources in front of a live audience is a tremendous challenge that theatre artists embrace every day. Perhaps this struggle strengthens them when they transition from theatre to films. As for me, I simply can’t wait to watch my next play.