Thieves’ Carnival is a comedy, in which three pickpockets- Peter Bono, Hector and Gustave insinuate themselves into the house of Lady Hurf and Lord Edgard by posing as people belonging to the royal family. Meanwhile, Hector and Gustave fall in love with Lady Hurf’s nieces-Eva and Juliette. Lady Hurf is all aware about what’s going on. In fact, she has created the situation simply because she got bored of herself in her life.
This is how she extracts some excitement by creating such puppets around her and playing with
them; because she needs it, as we all do. And perhaps this is the only way she can do so. A bit sad rather, but true…no? However, in this process, she creates a world full of fun and wits. An interactive live music is being used with the actors to achieve the desired result. And now, the production is before you to witness.
Director
Born in Shimla (H.P) in 1958, Avtar Sahni graduated from National School of Drama (NSD) in 1984 with specialization in Direction. Later, NSD granted him a fellowship for one year to work on the subject “Interaction Between Traditional Performing Arts and Modern Theatre” under the guidance of Shri Ratan Thiyam in Manipur. He has been awarded with a number of restigious awards in the field of Theatre such as, Sangeet Natak Akademi Award-2017 (in Allied Theatre Arts for contribution in Stage Lighting Design), Chamanlal Memorial Award-2018 Excellence in Theatre Lighting Design), Natya Guru Samman by Sanskar Bharti, New Delhi in 2017, Best Director Award by Nat Samrat Theatre Awards, New Delhi.He established his Theatre group called ART (Actor’s Repertory Theatre) in 2004 and directed about 45-plays with the group; with Shri Ram Centre Repertory Company, New Delhi; Bhartendu Natya Academy
Rang Mandal, Lucknow; Sahitya Kala Parishad Repertory, New Delhi, Chorus Repertory, Imphal.
His directorial ‘Uljhan’ was selected by Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi for its National Theatre Festival in 1992 and was widely acclaimed. Recently, he has designed & directed ‘Rashomon’ (2018). He is a visiting faculty at a number of theatre institutions and conducted many theatre workshops across the country. He has participated in numerous international theatre festivals and worked as technical director for Ibsen International Theatre Festival, New Delhi; Bharat Rang Mohatsav (NSD) at Lucknow, Chennai, Amritsar; and for Days of Delhi in Moscow (Govt. of Delhi), He was also a Light Designer for Commonwealth Games 2010, New Delhi (Games Village). Avtar Sahni has designed lights for well known theatre directors like Ratan Thiyam, Prasanna, Barry John, Robin Das, A.T. Subaki, Suryamohan Kulshestha among others. Presently, he is working as a freelance theatre Director, Designer and Actor.
Playwright
Tell known French dramatist Jean Anouilh born in Cérisole, a small village near W Bordeaux (France). His father was a tailor and Anouilh maintained that he inherited a pride craftsmanship from him. However, he owns an artistic bent from his mother, a violinist who used to play ummer seasons in a casino orchestra. Anouilh enrolled as a law student in the University of Paris, but left as he found employment in the advertising industry. With the encouragement of the acclaimed playwright Giraudoux, he began writing and made his theatrical debut with ‘Humulus le Muet’, a collaborative project with Jean Aurenche. It was followed by his first solo projects, ‘L’Hermine’ (The Ermine) in 1932 and ‘Mandarine’ in 1933, both were not great successes.He struggled through years of poverty producing several plays until he eventually wound up as secretary to the great actor-director Louis Jouvet. But he quickly discovered he
could not get along with this gruff man and left his company.
Later, Anouilh turned from contemporary tales to more mythical, classic, and historic subjects. During the Nazi occupation of France, Anouilh did not openly take sides, though he published
his play ‘Antigone’, often viewed as his most famous work. The play criticises – in an allegorical manner – collaborationism with the Nazis. His other famous plays are ‘Thieves’ Carnival’, Roméo
et Jeannette’, ‘Médée’ (Medea), ‘The Lark’ ‘La Grotte’ (The Cavern), ‘Colombe’, ‘Eurydice’, Backet’ etc.In 1964, Anouilh’s play ‘Becket or The Honor of God’ was made into a successful
film, starring Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton. The screenwriter who adapted it, Edward Anhalt, won an Academy Award for his screenplay. Anouilh himself categorised his plays as tragedies, realistic, and fantasies. In 1970, his work was recognized with the Prix Mondial Cino Del Duca.
Translator
Specialised in Acting from Nsd (1976-79). Over 50 year experience as Actor, Director, Trainer. Worked with Theatre stalwarts like E. Alkazi, Barry John, Robin Das, K.N. Pannicker, Ramgopal Bajaj, M.K. Raina, Ranjeet Kapoor, Ravi Baswani and others. Since 1987, Founder/Director of
Khilona Theatre for Children & the Young, India’s first Professional Theatre Company with a mission to pass on the benefits of Drama to one and all. A versatile director – over 120
major productions for education of life. Recipient of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Theatre Direction (2005). An integral part of Nsd Repertory for 4 years.
A prolific translator of over 50 world classic plays viz Ibsen’s Peer Gynt, Moliere’s Mock Doctor, Goldoni’s Fan, Servant of Two Masters, Brecht’s Chalk Circle & Galileo Galilei, Shakespeare’s Macbeth & Midsummer Night’s Dream, Peter Weiss’ Marat Sade etc. Adaptated over 50 stories/poems to create original plays and wrote over 1000 songs for Theatre.
Group
Established in 1964 with only 4 members, the Repertory Company is the regular performing department of the school. It was established with the twin objectives of establishing professional theatre on the one hand and continuing regular experimental work on the other.