ABOUT LITTLE THESPIAN
LITTLE THESPIAN is a national character theatre group, which has become synonymous with offering people (audiences) intellectually stimulating and socially relevant plays mounted with artistic skill and professionalism. Hindi/Urdu theatre saw a spring after a long because its driving force husband-wife duo S. M. Azhar Alam and Uma Jhunjhunwala overcame the hurdles and delivered plays which turned quite a few stereotypes on their heads along the way because of its new and unique experimentations and thus creating a great emotional rendezvous between theatre, actors and audience.
LITTLE THESPIAN also publishes a theatre magazine- first of its kind- in Urdu, RANG RASA and is very active with the adaptation and translation of plays and stories.
LITTLE THESPIAN also conducts a 3 month diploma course on “Dramatic Recitation of Story and Poetry” in association with Bhartiya Bhasha Parishad and gives people the opportunity to hone their theatrical skills of reading, reciting and exploring our rich literature.
PRODUCTIONS OF LITTLE THESPIAN
| FULL LENGTH PLAYS | STORY THEATRE | ONE-ACT PLAYS |
|---|---|---|
| Balkan ki Auratein (Urdu/Hindi, 2016) Playwright: Jules Tasca Translation: Uma Jhunjhunwala Dir. Mushtaq Kak | Katha Collage-7 (Hindi/Bengali, 2016) Stories by Kusum Khemani Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Ol-Okun (Hindi/Urdu, 2010) Playwright: Ismail Choonara Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala |
| Dhokha (Urdu, 2016) Playwright: Rahul Varma Translation: Uma Jhunjhunwala Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Bu (Urdu, 2012) Story by Saadat Hasan Manto Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Raksi (Urdu, 2008) Play & Direction: S. M. Azhar Alam |
| Kabira Khada Bazar Mein (Hindi, 2015) Playwright: Bhisham Sahni Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Kuch Khaaniyaan (Hindi/Urdu, 2012) Stories by Agyey and Mohan Rakesh Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Pahle Aap (Urdu, 2006) Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala |
| Rengti Parchhaiyan (Hindi/Urdu, 2014) Playwright: Uma Jhunjhunwala Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Katha Collage-6 (Hindi/Urdu, 2012) Stories by Saadat Hasan Manto Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Manto Ne Kaha (Urdu, 2005) Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam |
| Alka(Hindi, 2013) Playwright: Manoj Mitra Translation: Uma Jhunjhunwala Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Katha Collage-5 (Hindi/Urdu, 2010) Stories by Muzaffar Hanfi and Sheo Jhunjhunwala Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Namak Ki Gudia (Urdu, 2001) Play & Direction: S. M. Azhar Alam |
| Gainda (Hindi, 2011) Playwright: Eugene Ionesco Translation: S. M. Azhar Alam Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Bade Bhai Sahib by Premchand (Hindi/Urdu, 2009) Suinyowali Bibi by Iqbal Majid Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Tamsili Mushaera (Urdu, 1998) Script: Naseem Faique Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam |
| Patjhad (Urdu, 2009) Playwright: Tennessee Williams Adaptation: S. M. Azhar Alam | Katha Collage-4 (Hindi/Urdu, 2008) Stories by Muzaffar Hanfi and Ismail Choonara Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Dard ka Portrait (Urdu, 1997) Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala |
| Question Mark (Urdu/Hindi, 2007) Playwright: Ismail Choonara Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Do Rang (Benagli/Hindi, 2008) Stories by Rabindranath Tagore Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Satgati (Hindi/Urdu, 1994) Story by Premchand Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala |
| Yaadon Ke Bujhe Huye Savere (Urdu, 2005) Playwright: Ismail Choonara Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Katha Collage-2 (Hindi/Urdu, 2007) Stories by Madhu Kankariya, Shailendra, Anis Rafi & S. Premi Dir. Uma Jhunjhunwala | Black Sunday (Urdu, 1994) Playwright: Zahir Anwar Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam |
| Hayavadan (Nepali, 2004) Playwright: Girish Karnad Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | Katha Collage-1 (Urdu, 2007) Stories by Saadat Hasan Manto Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | |
| Shuturmurg (Hindi, 2004) Playwright: Gyandev Agnihotri Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | ||
| Raksi Ko Srishti Karta (Nepali, 2003) Based on Leo Tolstoy’s “The First Distiller” Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | ||
| Kanch ke Khilone (Hindi, 2002) Playwright: Tennessee Williams Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | ||
| Lohar (Hindi, 1999) Playwright: Balwant Gargi Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | ||
| Sulagte Chinar (Urdu/1996) Novel: ‘Death of a Hero’ by Dr Mulk Raj Anand Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam | ||
| Mahakal (Hindi/1995) Playwright: Avinash Shreshthra Dir. S. M. Azhar Alam |
Every year Little Thespian organizes a National Hindi Theatre Festival, gathering prominent plays and personalities of theatre world on one platform giving a delightful experience to the audience, also it is the only Hindi theatre festival organized in Kolkata. It has been doing so continuously from 2010.
OUR THEATRE FESTIVALS IN COLLABORATION WITH MINISTRY OF CULTURE, GOVT. OF INDIA:
• JASHN-E-RANG 2016-17 (A 6 day festival celebrating theatre)
• KRISHAN AUR BHISHAM 2015-16 (A 6 day festival celebrating the birth centenary of Krishan Chander and Bhisham Sahni)
• JASHN-E-RANG 2014-15 (A 6 day festival celebrating theatre)
• BE-LAGAAM MANTO 2012-13 (A 4day festival celebrating the birth centenary of Saadat Hasan Manto)
• JASHN-E-TAGORE 2011-12 (A 4 day festival celebrating Tagore in Urdu/Hindi with a seminar on Tagore)
• KATHA COLLAGE UTSAV 2010-11 (A 5 day national festival where 16 stories were staged followed by seminar on Story Theatre).