E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, SEP 22 -

In a society where circus workers still do not glean any respect for their art form, the Sapana Group, Nepal’s only circus, works rigorously to prove the general stereotype wrong. With their October-scheduled international show in Dubai nearing, the Sapana Group performed at the British School in a charity event along with the Cambridge Rickshaw Theatre Project, a travelling physical theatre project from Cambridge University, on Sept 14.

The travelling theatre from Cambridge came to Nepal upon completing a four-week tour in India. They had staged plays on social issues—HIV, gender and caste discrimination issues to name a few—with child actors in various parts of the nation. Because of the similarities between the social situations and cultures of India and Nepal the group came to Kathmandu, collaborating with the Sapana Group which has affiliations with the Esther Benjamins Memorial Foundation (EBMF).

The show comprised of two acts: first, a contemporary circus act assisted by Australian circus professionals Ivan Smith and Shaun Plumtree. The first act had the gymnasts of the Sapana Group present acrobatic performances ranging from full-body tumbles, to cartwheels, human bridges and pyramids. Ivan Smith presented a piece of contact juggling, which includes using a heavy crystal ball to create the illusion of floating. Shaun Plumtree presented an act with what’s called “meteors”, a flexible rope-like object that in the routine appears to be a stick. Both Plumtree and Smith are helping the Sapana group prepare for their international tour. “Their act in Dubai will be much more narrative, higher in terms of its technicality, as well as its level of difficulty,” said Plumtree.

The second act was directed by the students of Cambridge; it was a play titled The Frog Princess. The story of a prince marrying an ugly frog who later transforms into a beautiful princess was presented by children no more than 15 years, who beside the lack of polishing won audiences’ hearts.

The Sapana Group comprises of Nepali children who have been rescued from circuses in India where they underwent physical and mental abuse. The Esther Benjamins Memorial Foundation initiates these rescue missions and works on providing a better future for these children through the circus dreams that they have always had. The EBMF also provides rehabilitation to abandoned children, those unjustly serving time in juvenile detention centres or being subjected to abuse at so-called orphanages. The revenue collected from the charity show will be used by EBMF for their rehabilitation projects.

Posted on: 2011-09-22 09:18

Post Your Comment

Please note that all the fields marked * are mandatory.
* Full Name
* Address
* Email Address
* Comment
* Captcha	Get another CAPTCHA code
Note:	Comments containing abusive words or slander shall not be published.