Upcoming event: Kathakar - International Storytellers Festival 2016

The 5th edition of Kathakar - International Storytellers Festival will be held from 5th to 7th February 2016 at the Amphitheatre, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), Janpath, New Delhi.

The international storytellers being hosted this year are Tim Ralphs, Giles Abbott, Emily Hennessey while the Indian storytellers are Puran Bhat, Usha Venkataramen and the Bhaaat community from Meerut.

A range of sessions will be held at the IGNCA, morning one hour sessions for school students need to be pre-booked which will be held from 9 am to 12 pm on 5th and 6th February. Evening sessions will be held every day from 4:30 pm to 8 pm. Special workshop on storytelling techniques will be held on Sunday, 7th February, open mic session on Saturday, 6th February and a panel discussion on Friday, 5th February.

Special sessions in schools will also be organised along with sessions for aspiring storytellers to tell their stories at the festival.

Morning school sessions need to be pre-booked while the evening sessions are open to adults and chidlren above the age of 7 years. There is no entry fee and seating is strictly on first-cum-first-serve basis.

To pre-book schools sessions or for further information contact: nivesh.india@gmail.com, ghummakkadnarain@gmail.com

Kathakar 2016 - Programme Schedule

Friday, 5th February 2016

Morning Schools session: 9 am – 12 pm (School children – Classes IV to VI and age group: 9 to 11 years)

9:15 -10 am - Across a Green Glass Bridge - the Italian Fairytale of a magical bridge under the earth and the wild adventures of those who cross it by Tim Ralphs (U.K.)

10 -10:45 am - Puran Bhat (Rajasthan, India)

11 am -11:45 am - Deep in the Forest...Weird and wonderful folktales from the leafy shadows by Emily Hennessey (U.K)

Evening Session: 4:30 pm – 8 pm (Audience: Open audience, adults and children above the age of 7 years)

4:30 – 5:15 pm – Panel Discussion on ‘The Diverse use of storytelling in todays times’, discussants Emily Hennessey, Tim Ralps, Puran Bhat, Mangalam Swaminathan, Shaguna Gahilote

5:30 – 6:15 pm – The Firebird - the Russian story of a huntsman, his talking horse, and the terrible commands of a wicked king by Tim Ralphs (U.K)

6:30 – 7 pm – Puran Bhat and group (Rajasthan, India)

7:15 – 8 pm – Ice & Fire: Trickster tales from Norse Mythology by Emily Hennessey (U.K)

Saturday, 6th February 2016

Morning Schools session: 9 am – 12 pm (School children – Classes VI to VIII and age group: 11 to 13 years)

9:15 -10 am - Monsters & Men - stories of monsters and people by Giles Abbott (U.K)

10 -10:45 am – Heer Ranjha through Swang by the Bhaat community (Meerut, India)

11 am -11:45 am - Across a Green Glass Bridge - the Italian Fairytale of a magical bridge under the earth and the wild adventures of those who cross it by Tim Ralphs (U.K.)

Evening Session: 4:30 pm – 8 pm (Audience: Open audience, adults and children above the age of 7 years)

4:30 – 5:15 pm – ‘ Open mic’ - an informal session where the audience can share and tell their stories (pre-registration required)

5:30 – 6:15 pm – Monsters & Men - stories of monsters and people by Giles Abbott (U.K)

6:30 – 7 pm – Satyavan Savitriee through Swang by the Bhaat community (Meerut, India)

7:15 – 8 pm – Tatterhood - the enchanting Norwegian story of a family of trolls that terrify a small kingdom. Can a Princess riding a goat and wielding a wooden spoon save her sister and her land by Tim Ralphs (U.K)

Sunday, 7th February 2016

Afternoon special session for differenetly abled children: 2 pm – 4 pm (Schools/NGOs)

2 -2:45 pm - Patched & Mended - uses Welsh myth and autobiography to explore how one can respond positively to adversity and ‘misfortune’ by Giles Abbott (U.K)

3 -3:45 pm – Fire & Dust: Hindu mythology's story of Shiva and Sati by Emily Hennessey (UK)

Evening Session: 4:30 pm – 8 pm (Audience: Open audience, adults and children above the age of 7 years)

4:30 – 5:15 pm – ‘Draw on their experience’ - an informal session to take tips, learn ideas on storytelling and performance from the masters with Emily Hennessey, Giles Abbott, Usha Venkataraman

5:30 – 6:15 pm – Starry Night: A constellation of narration inspired by the night sky by Emily Hennessey (U.K)

6:30 – 7 pm – Hiranyakashyap – the wicked king and his good son and Meenaskhi Kalyanam, an Indian retelling of the Cuban folktale, Martina the beautiful cockroach by Usha Venkataraman (Mumbai, India)

7:15 – 8 pm – East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon - a wonderful Norwegian version of a Greek myth, Eros Psyche by Giles Abbott (U.K)