October 15

Shaili Theatre and the Russian House, in collaboration with Aarohan Gurukul Biratnagar, have begun staging Antim Geet, the Nepali adaptation of renowned Russian playwright Anton Chekhov’s play The Swan Song, in Biratnagar.

The production opened on Wednesday at the Sushila Koirala Natak Ghar in Biratnagar and will run through Thursday, October 16, Shaili Theatre announced. The opening performance took place at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, while two shows are scheduled for Thursday, October 16, at 1 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to Nabaraj Budhathoki, chairperson of Shaili Theatre and director of the play.

The play features renowned actor Sunil Pokharel and young actor Sabbu Gurung. Translated into Nepali by Mahesh Paudyal, the production is directed by Nabaraj Budhathoki. Utsav Budhathoki is responsible for the music and vocals, while Shankar Pokharel is managing the stage. Govinda Basnet is coordinating the production.

Speaking to the media, director Budhathoki said that a large number of theatre enthusiasts from Biratnagar and surrounding areas attended the opening performance. He speculated that the play’s popularity might be partly due to its former inclusion in the academic curriculum and the fact that many people had already read its script. The strong presence of students, teachers, writers, journalists, and independent theatre enthusiasts, he added, had greatly encouraged the team.

The play has been jointly produced by Shaili Theatre and the Russian House in Kathmandu to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Russia and the 250th anniversary of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. The production was previously staged to great acclaim at the Russian House auditorium in Kamalpokhari, Kathmandu, from September 18 to 21.

According to the organizers, tickets for the ongoing Biratnagar performances are priced at Rs. 300, Rs. 500, and Rs. 1,000.