GUWAHATI: The seventh edition of the GPlus Guwahati Theatre Festival came to a grand closing on September 29, Sunday with Rael Padamsee’s Ace Productions presenting ‘Hidden Agendas.’
The play, featuring some of Mumbai's finest talent, took the audience on a thrilling ride through drama and humour. It explores the chaos that ensues when a group of close friends accidentally leave their smartphones unlocked during a dinner party, revealing secrets that stir up unexpected emotions.
Directed by the internationally acclaimed Karla Singh, ‘Hidden Agendas’ starred a powerhouse cast, including Tannaz Irani, Anu Menon, Dilnaz Irani, Sid Makkar, Gaurav Sharma, Zervaan Bunshah, Varun Narayan, and Renee Sen, delivering a dynamic ensemble performance that left the audience in awe.
The festival began on September 27 with the Sumeet Vyas-directed production Puraane Chawal, staged by D for Drama. This entertaining play starred Kumud Mishra, Shubhrajyoti Barat, Ghanshyam Lalsa, Anamika, Kirti Soni, Prashant Pandey, and Divyendu Saurav, and set the tone for the festival’s success.On September 28, audiences were treated to Rael Padamsee’s Ace Productions Anything But Love, starring Mandira Bedi and Samir Soni. The play, celebrating its 20th year and over 400 shows worldwide, delves into the complexities of relationships, exploring themes such as compatibility, trust, respect, mutual understanding, and personal space. Anything But Love captivated the Guwahati audience with its raw portrayal of love’s challenges.
Guwahati was buzzing as the festival took the city by storm, delivering three days of show-stopping performances. With plays that have wowed audiences in every major city across the country, the festival brought its A-game to packed houses. The Guwahati crowd, clearly spellbound by the actors' emotional rollercoasters, responded the only way it deserved—by springing to their feet in standing ovations.
The Guwahati Theatre Festival 2024 drew over 3000 attendees over its three-day run, marking another successful chapter in the festival’s history. Theatre enthusiasts from across the city gathered to celebrate and experience the magic of live performances in what has become an annual highlight for Guwahati’s cultural scene.
This year’s festival featured some of the most prominent personalities in Indian theatre, including Kumud Mishra, Shubhrajyoti Barat, Mandira Bedi, Samir Soni, Tannaz Irani, Anu Menon, and Sid Makkar, among others. The three plays showcased at the seventh edition of the festival were performed at the prestigious Pragjyoti ITA Centre in Machkhowa, Guwahati from September 27 to 29.
For the first time, the Guwahati Theatre Festival has expanded its offerings to make the festival more inclusive of performing arts by hosting competitions in Singing, Dancing, and Cosplay, alongside an Open Mic session, Acting Workshops, and other experiences. Hundreds of participants registered for these events, contributing to the festival’s awe-inspiring atmosphere.
The seventh edition of the festival is initiated by GPlus and powered by The Assam Tribune, in association with Apollo Hospitals Guwahatiand supported by Numaligarh Refinery Limited, NTPC Bongaigaon, NEDFi, Indian Bank, State Bank of India, Poddar Car World, Bureau of Indian Standards,Outreach Advertising, and Novotel Guwahati.