KOCHI: Hiroshi Koike, the renowned Japanese director, choreographer and a master of physical theatre will produce the second chapter of his Mahabharata project from India.
‘Mahabharata’ will premiere at the International Theatre Festival of Kerala at Thrissur on January 12. ‘Theatreconnekt’ is the Indian collaborator and producer of the project. The 4-part Mahabharata project of Hiroshi Koike was commissioned in 2013.
‘The Mahabharta’ is the first major assignment of Hiroshi Koike Bridge Project (KIKH), - the company Hiroshi started in 2012, after closing down his performance company ‘Papa Tarahumara’, established in 1982. In its 30 years of existence, ‘Papa Tarahumara’ produced more than 55 cutting edge productions which travelled around the world. ‘
Ship in a View’, ‘Milky Way Train’, ‘Restaurant of Many Orders’, and ‘Odyssey of Wind’ of Hiroshi are considered his milestone productions.
Japanese Mahabharata (Chapter-2) has a rare and unique combination of most talented international performers from Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and India. They are Lee Swee Keong, the noted Butoh dancer from Malaysia, Balinese mask dancer Tetsuro Koyano, popular Thai dancer and choreographer Waewdao Sirosook and Sachiko Shiraii, noted dancer from Japan.
As Indian counterparts, Sreejith Ramanan, the versatile actor and faculty at School of Drama-Thrissur, Denny Paul and Sumesh (former dancers from Attakkalari-Bangalore) and Moon Moon Singh, the most promising actor of contemporary Indian theatre, who is an alumnus of National School of Drama-Delhi, will perform in this production.
The other creative contributors from India will be Chandran Veyattummal (Music) Mandakini Goswami (Costumes) and Firos Khan (Set, Property and Stage Management).
There will be performance at National Center for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai on January 14. Internationally Mahabharata will perform at Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC)-Kuala Lumpur on January 17 and 18 and Salihara Theater-Jakarta on January 23 and 24. The Mahabharata Project is being supported by Asia Center of The Japan Foundation-Tokyo.