Theatre Booming in Nepal

While in some parts of the world audiences for theatre are getting small...in Nepal the theatre industry is booming.

In the capital Kathmandu there are five new performances halls that show regular plays and actors are in high demand. 

12 young people are rehearsing in a big hall.

They have been selected to join a actors training led by the famous theatre director, Ashes Malla.

He started this training course last year and today is the fourth group.

“In Nepal the theatre culture is growing but there are not enough professional artists. There are not enough workshops or trainings for those who want to be artists. They don’t get enough of a chance. So we started this workshop, it will help to produce professional artists.”

Nepal has a long history of theatre... performing historical and cultural stories.

In the past, there were only a few theatre halls and it was hard to find more than 50 people to watch a show.

But three years ago things have started to change, says Ashes Malla.

“Since the ousting of the Nepali monarchy in 2007, people’s interest towards theatre, arts and literature has increased dramatically. We have been getting innovative play writers, directors and committed artists. They’re now using different methods like multimedia. So I think, this is a major factor that play becomes popular today.”

And today, more and more young people flock to theatre hall to watch plays...

Like this one...

It’s a play called “Nirawan” by Sarwanam theatre students.

... it tells the story of dirty politics in Nepal.

The hall is packed with more than 100 people watching.

30-year-old accountant Dhirajraj Subedi is amongst the crowd.

“My first choice for entertainment is a play because in a play we can watch natural acting, we can feel the emotion. We can give our feedback to the director and can interact with the actor also. That’s why I love plays.”

36-year-old Dipak Achary is one of the actors.

He has been in the business for 20 years and today he plays the lead role.

“A few years ago you would never have gotten audience of 100 people or run a play for a month. Now it’s become the norm.  My dream has come true.”  

Back at the hall... a group of students are still busy rehearsing.

19-year-old Aastha MM is an English teacher and now she’s rehearsing her role as mother for an upcoming play.

She plans to change her career into acting.

“First of all I want to be a better actor and then I want to become a director and get into script writing. I am hoping this workshop will help me gain the confidence to do that.”

Ashes Malla is optimistic that Nepalese theatre will have a brighter future.

“I'm hopeful because our shows are getting good audiences. Now we are confidence that we can make a profit and pay our artists and that the theatre will survive.”