[Reader-list] Strindberg Weekend: August Strindberg Anniversary 2012

[rohitrellan at aol.in]

The Swedish Embassy, Katyayani & Old World Culture present the STRINDBERG WEEKEND.The playwright’s obsession with the battle of the classes and sexes is explored in a dramatised reading of The Father and a performance of Miss Julie, with some of Delhi’s most talented actors

THE FATHER

A dark and compelling story about a dysfunctional family..
“The Father exhibits the politics of the caveman - yet it is a brilliant, engrossing play…” 
Read by Sanjeev Desai, Nandini Sra, Tarini Pal, Pranay Manchanda, Manohar Khushlani, Subhashini Sood and Alokesh Sharma.
Vocals by Nandini Sra. Directed by Sohaila Kapur

MISS JULIE

Set on an intoxicating midsummer night -- a count’s daughter, Julie, in an attempt to escape an existence cramped by social mores, indulges in a flirtatious contest for power with an attractive man servant, which quickly escalates into a love (or is it lustful?) relationship, that is fully consummated. Miss Julie and Jean battle for control, until Jean suggests a shocking denouement. It is one of Strindberg’s well loved plays.
“Strindberg’s characters duel to death…”

Cast: Damandeep Sidhu, Vidushi Mehra and Arti Nayyar.
Accordion : Phillipe Juszczak
Dancers: Jyotsna, Tushar, Shifali, Naina, Gayatri, Shivani, Tarique & Kunal 
Directed by Sohaila Kapur. 

March 23, Epicentre, Gurgaon and March 24, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road. 7 p.m. Tickets available at venue.
Follow the discussion on the play and the issues raised by it on:

http://shekharkapur.com/blog/2012/03/strindbergs-miss-julie-relavant-to-india/comment-page-1/#comment-41654
August Strindberg Anniversary 2012



Think for yourself

Why the Year of Strindberg?

August Strindberg (1849-1912) was a Swedish playwright, novelist, and essayist. The year of 2012 marks the 100 year anniversary of his death.

His career spanned four decades, during which time he wrote over 60 plays and more than 30 works of fiction, autobiography, history, cultural analysis, and politics. He is considered the "father" of modern Swedish literature and his "The Red Room" has frequently been described as the first modern Swedish novel. Recurrent themes in his works are power, the relation between men and women, religious doubt and social problems.

Strindberg was always redefining himself: novelist, playwright, poet, painter, photographer, scientist, pundit, rabble-rouser, traveller, autobiographer, letter writer. But never an ally of the rich and powerful. He gave of himself and drew inspiration from the events of his own life. If there is one phrase that sums up the message of everything he wrote, it’s the following: Think for yourself. And perhaps that is what makes him so relevant in a year like 2012.

A website www.strindberg2012.se has been created by the Swedish Arts Council, the City of Stockholm through the Stockholm City Theatre and the Swedish Institute. The vision of strindberg2012.se is to gather together information about what is happening in 2012 – The Year of Strindberg and to reintroduce the general public to his works.
In 2012, funding from the Swedish Arts Council will have a particular focus on works by author and playwright August Strindberg, who died in 1912. 

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