On 16th December 2021, Mandala Theatre-Nepal organized an event to launch the Nepali edition of ‘Improvising Real Life’, a book originally written by Jo Salas, the co-founder of Playback Theatre at Mandala’s new venue at Thapagaun, Kathmandu.
Mandala Theatre-Nepal received copyright from the author Jo Salas along with publisher Tusitala Publishing to get Nepali translation of the book ‘Improvising Real Life’. The book is published by Mandala Theatre-Nepal with the support of Civil Peace Service (GIZ-ZFD). Translated into Nepali by young Nepali author Suraj Subedi and the translation was edited by Dinesh Kafle, the book garnered positive reviews during the launching ceremony.
The book was launched by 3 generations of theatre artists from Nepal, mainly by those who are practicing playback theatre regularly in their career. Experienced artists and playbackers like Saraswoti Chaudhary, Renuka Karki and Ingi Hopo Koinch Sunuwar and 3 students of Mandala’s Drama School Bishnumaya Pariyar, Sanjay Bishwakarma and Pradeep Dhungana together with veteran theatre director Anup Baral unfolded the cover wrapper to launch the book during the ceremony. Longtime playback practitioner Gunjan Dixit shared her reviews about both English and Nepali editions of the book and expressed her happiness to get the opportunity to read the book in Nepali language. Baburam Poudel, CEO of Pro-Public shared his and organizational experience of reintroducing playback theatre in Nepal for conflict transformation and reconciliation in society. On behalf of Civil Peace Service coordinator Stephanie Theis, her colleague and peace advisor of Mandala, Michael Thonhauser read her message to the ceremony and playback theatre practitioners in Nepal. The ceremony was opened by the welcome speech of Mandala’s secretary Bijay Baral and also invited attendees to watch the short video message sent by the original writer Jo Salas.
Here are some glimpses of the events:
