Theatre: Rashomon and Black Comedy
Robert Tyabji, Thimphu, 1981
In the summer of 1981, Ms Kusum Haidar, wife of the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan and an accomplished director and stage personality in India, directed and produced the well known 1950 Japanese film Rashomon.
There were no suitable halls in Thimphu at the time, so an indoor badminton court was converted into a temporary theater. Costumes and lights for the show were sourced from as far away as Siliguri and New Delhi and a beautiful set was created of the Rashomon Gate, the Forest and the Court.
Many senior government officials volunteered for parts in the play, even though most had never acted before! Hootoksi was the only foreigner in the cast, and I did the stage lighting and sound.
Opening night was graced by H M King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck and many members of the Royal Family, as well as other guests from the government, United Nations and other organizations.
Click here for a synopsis of Rashomon, which means 'short story' in Japanese
Click here to read about Black Comedy.
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