Source: The Sangai Express
New Delhi, October 09 2008:
Three mime plays My Obedient Doll, Mime Stick Dance and Naughty Boy directed by Dr Y Sadananda of Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory from Manipur to be staged at LTG Auditorium, Copernicus Marg here on October 16 as a part of National School of Drama's 11-day National Theatre Festival for Children 2008 .
An MA in English literature and PhD in Manipuri theatre, Sadananda, the Director of the Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory, Imphal said, "Mime is simply defined as 'the use of gestures and facial expression to tell a story or convey feelings, especially in theatre'.
The world mime theatre today employs various effects portraying meaningful and entertaining performances.
India too has a rich culture of art its manifestations and our persistent effort is on a fusion of mime with all other indigenous art form of Manipur for a more thriving mime performance of International standard.
The mime plays My Obedient Doll, Naughty Boy, Stick Dance with Mime are an endeavour to show a highly entertainment with educative values for the children and general public".
He established his repertory in 1987, the only one professional Mime Theatre group in Manipur State.
His group made its first appearance in the national mime scene in the year 1989 in the 1st National Mime Festival held at New Delhi.
The Repertory presented the play Power's Act, based on a victim woman tortured by the Army.
Since then, his group took part in every National Mime Festivals held at different parts in the country.
He is a pioneering mime director in the North East India.
After his ceaseless effort in the development of mime theatre in the country upon the foundation of rich Manipuri culture, Sadananda was able to enter into the international scene.
In May 2006, his repertory participated in the Chuncheon International Mime Festival in South Korea representing India and presented the mime play Cheitheng (Agony).
The play based on the great epic Ramayana's episode of Shrawankumar, son of blind parents, who was killed by King Dasaratha had a widely acclaimed play in the Festival.
Besides Cheitheng, the Repertory staged two other mime plays namely My Obedient Doll and Naughty Boy.
Another Manipuri play to be staged in the festival is Ngamkhei (Border) directed by a female director Y.Anuradha of Huyen Lalong Thang-Ta Cultural Organization.
The 30-minute play will be staged at Shri Ram Centre on October
17 .
Cheitheng again participated in the 9th International Puppet and Mime Festival of Kilkis 2007 .