India’s Prithvi Theatre Festival
There are very few places on the planet where one can find the history to give weight to a heritage hotel. India has several of these, being one of the cradle’s of the human race, with cities that have been continually inhabited for over twenty centuries. Our heritage hotels have the weight of history along with the conveniences of modern living, where guests will find all the comforts of any luxury hotel, but with differences that are really essential. Individual character, of course, is one of the most important qualities here, and there’s no question that our hotels are unique and carefully maintained. There is an element of timelessness here, to allow our guests the opportunity to lose themselves in the moment. Relaxation is central here, so that you may really enjoy the many splendid things India has to offer.
There are a multitude of cultures and languages here, and their co-existence today means a unique blend of world views that manifest themselves in art practice. Visual arts have the classicism of antiquity and all the various strains of contemporary art schools to inform them, making for a vibrant visual culture. Performing arts are no different, and one can see some of the oldest forms of theatre on the planet in this country. Simultaneously, there are theatre groups who are extremely modern, offering the latest in experimental performance techniques and technologies. All of these are on display at the Prithvi Theatre Festival . The Prithvi Theatre, based in the suburbs of Bombay, was started in 1944 by the famous film actor Prithviraj Kapoor. His son, Shashi, also an actor, fell in love with Jennifer Kendal, an actress with a neighboring theatre, Shakespeareana.
They joined forces in marriage, and also in theatre, and set up the current Prithvi Theatre in a trust under Kapoor’s name. This theatre is based in presenting emotionally-driven contemporary and classical works, emanating the psychological realism that Kapoor was famous for. The Prithvi Theatre festival is a celebration of theatre through public performances, with different themes for every year. Some years are limited to Bombay presentations, and other years they invite theatres from all over to participate. This is an excellent opportunity to sample national culture, and to entertain the whole family.