Open Call for “DEVISING KATHMANDU”- a Playmaking Workshop

Mandala Theatre-Nepal invites applications from aspiring play makers and directors to participate in Devising Kathmandu- Making the Invisible Visible.

Devising Kathmandu is a 21-day immersive playmaking workshop designed for performance artists seeking to create and design original works through a rigorous collaborative process. Organized by Mandala Theatre-Nepal, this marks the second edition of its directors’ workshop.

The first edition, held in 2017 and 2018, nurtured 16 participants who are now actively contributing to contemporary Nepali theatre. Building on that legacy, Devising Kathmandu continues to cultivate a new generation of theatre-makers through collective creation and experimentation.

What to expect

This creative journey invites participants to explore the deeper relation between the body and its surroundings. The body, as a physical entity, both perceives and emotes the changes within the fragile environment, just as the environment responds to what the body emotes. Within this shared fragility, the body becomes a medium—a language that mediates between the known and the unknown.

During the workshop we will explore:

• The body as a medium that translates invisible experiences into physical imagery, ranging from the most subtle to the most turbulent
• The relationship between bodies, materials and the spaces they inhabit
• Space as an active narrative entity, layered with narratives and connotations

Participants will engage deeply with devising, a collaborative theatre-making process where an ensemble creates performance from issues, themes, images, ideas, texts or concepts rather than from a pre-existing script.

This process encourages artists to embrace the importance of understanding, embodying, and critically engaging with their work. In pushing the boundaries of their practice, they will find physical images, experiment with non-traditional narratives and develop collective and democratic ways of working together.

The workshop will conclude with moments of individual and collective reflection, which may become the starting point for further exploration and new beginnings.

Facilitated by Thoudam Victor (he/him)

Thoudam Victor is a thought-provoking theatre director, performer, and educator from India. A graduate of the National School of Drama (2009–2012) and a Charles Wallace India Trust Scholar (2014–15), he trained in Advanced Theatre Practice in London and holds an MA in Devised Theatre from Rose Bruford College. His works have been presented at major national and international festivals, earning accolades including Best Actor at META 2023. His productions Black and White and Aboriginal Cry, staged at the Nepal International Theatre Festival, were widely appreciated. Victor has taught at NSD and other institutions and universities across India.

Who Should Apply

This workshop is intended for aspiring artists in Nepal who already have some experience as:

• Actors, dancers or performers planning to explore playmaking process
• directors or assistant directors
• theatre-makers and interdisciplinary artists

Applicants should:

• have prior experience in playmaking process in any capacity and are interested in exploring further
• be excited to work with the body as a primary performance medium and open to non-text-based performance approaches
• be willing to engage in an intensive and collaborative creative process

Participants are required to attend the entire three-week workshop period.

Logistics & Support

• For Kathmandu-based participants: day attendance (breakfast and lunch provided)
• For participants from outside Kathmandu: residential participation with full board
• Travel costs to and from Kathmandu will be covered
• Opportunities of developing/directing plays for Mandala Theatre in future can emerge

Accessibility provisions

We are committed to making this workshop accessible to artists from across Nepal. We strongly encourage applications from women and LGBTQI+, Dalits, marginalized communities and differently-abled artists.

• The venue will be wheelchair accessible.
• On-site childcare can be provided free of charge.
• An accompanying caretaker may join if necessary, food and accommodation will be provided.

Please include any accessibility and/or childcare needs in your application so we can support participation accordingly.

Application Requirements

Please submit the following documents via email to mpbt@mandalatheatre.com

1. A short motivational letter explaining why you want to participate. (either in Nepali, Hindi, or in English language)
2. A CV including a brief description of key artistic projects and your role in them
3. Themes or topics you are interested in exploring as an artist
4. Any accessibility needs and/or childcare needs

Application Deadline: Wednesday, 13^th of May

If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Trilok Sharma: mpbt@mandalatheatre.com

Key Implementation Partners

This workshop is implemented through the collaboration of CPS GIZ and Mandala Theater, a partnership dedicated to theatre for social change and non-violent approaches to peacebuilding in Nepal.