Marathi theatre body looks to add global flavour to its annual meet

Mumbai: The 92nd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan (92nd All-India Marathi Theatre Meet), to be held early next year, will see drama enthusiasts from the world over take part in literary discussions. The move to rope in theatre groups and play aficionados from abroad comes at a time when Marathi plays are gaining popularity with international audiences.
Members of the organizing committee are busy drawing up a list of invitees and acquiring their contact details. The theatre festival, to be organized by the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, will be held from January 20 to 22 in Sangli.
Actor Vandana Gupte, treasurer of the central branch of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, confirmed that they were working on the logistics of involving theatre groups from abroad. “We will finalize this issue after coordinating with our committee members in Sangli and will soon send out the invites,” she said.
Actor Vinay Apte, also a member of the branch, said, “The aim is to widen the canvas of Marathi theatre and involve like-minded people settled abroad in the deliberations. The response to Marathi plays staged abroad has been encouraging and there is a huge demand for them.”
In July, TOI had reported about Marathi theatre gaining popularity abroad (Curtain call for Marathi dramas on foreign stage). Marathi-speaking population in countries like the US, UK, New Zealand, Japan and Dubai has been inviting production houses to stage shows of their plays there.
When contacted, actor Shrikant Moghe, the president of the 92nd Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Sammelan, said there was a need to involve creative minds for the overall development of the industry.