COURT MARTIAL
   
Date: 22nd Nov to 2nd Dec, 9th Dec to 22nd Dec 5:00pm

Ticket Price: Nrs. 500, Nrs. 300,
Nrs. 200 for students only (with the ID)
Buy One 200ml Real Juice and Get One for FREE.

Introduction:
Although the Government of Nepal has repeatedly expressed a commitment to eliminate caste based discrimination from the country by its fifteenth and sixteenth periodic reports submitted under the International Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, the practice of untouchability, rooted in the caste system, continues to stigmatize and dehumanize the 4.5 million 1 Dalits in Nepal as ‘polluted’ or ’impure. The feudal nature of the caste system also prevents Dalits from leaving their prescribed work. This issue doesn’t prevail only in the villages but also exists in urban sectors and government organizations.

The play Court Martial strongly addresses the issue of racial and caste discrimination and provokes a perspective towards the social hatred and disconcerts facilitated by such inhuman discrimination. Our attempt to adapt and stage Court Martial is to advocate this social paradox of hate and disparaging treatment based on cultural classifications.
When respect is denied to a man for the only reason that he is born by ‘low-caste’ parents, the offense can not be simply termed as a social violence. It assumes larger proportion of crime against humanity and society at large. Yet, by the turn in situation the murder becomes a winner whereas the victim is unforgiven. The culprit may receive severe punishment at the hands of the law, but in fact, it is the society which is put in the docks.

It is a responsibility of every citizen, businessmen, industrialist, educators, and people at all levels to be aware and act against such practice prevailing in the nation.

Synopsis of the Play:
Court Martial is a gripping, engrossing and powerful play written by Swadesh Deepak. It is the story of a recruit Ram Bahadur who is accused of killing his senior officer and injuring another. Ram Bahadur’s trial brings startling facts into light that questions the norms of society. This Court Martial is presided by a war veteran Col. RupakSingh, accustomed to the brutality of life but who is left completely unarmed and broken during the course of this trial. Ram Bahadur’s trial is not only life. Court Martial presents a combination of legal and poetic justice.

About the Playwright
Swadesh Deepak is a popular Indian playwright, novelist and short-story writer. Deepak has been active on the Hindi literary scene since the mid 1960s and is best known for Court Martial, a path breaking play that he published in 1991. Deepak’s most recent book is Maine ManduNahinDekha, a volume of memoirs. His other prominent plays include SabseUdaasKavita, JaltaHuaRath (The Chariot in Flames), and Kal Kothari (The Dark Cellar). Deepak’s first play, NatakBalBhagwan, dates back to 1988. His characters find death as a constant companion, and often succumb to it. Often, critics have suggested that Deepak walks alongside his characters with a loaded gun—recoiled and ready to fire
Deepak’s works have appeared in all major literary periodicals of India, and he has more than 15 published titles to his credit. Several of his works have been staged and made into television programmes. Swadesh Deepak holds master’s degrees in both Hindi and English. For twenty-six years, he taught English literature at Ambala’s Gandhi Memorial College. Deepak is one of the few playwrights to win the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award 2004, the most prestigious award conferred to a performing artist in India.

About the Director
Anup Baral is an impassioned and renowned theatre director, actor and conceptual artist. He has his master’s degree in acting from the National School of Drama, New Delhi, India. During his two decade long journey, he has directed and conceptualized more than three dozen plays and performed as an actor as well. Anup is particularly known as a visual

poet and highly experimental director, who has constantly been trying to bring multi disciplinary approach to theatre and through live performance, visual art, digital media. He explores with the theatre pieces, performances and installs such themes as urban conflicts, migration, marginalization etc.

He has earned high praise for memorable acting in different plays as such Lopakhin in Cherry Orchard, Hamlet in Hamlet, GyanBhikshu in fire in the monastery, Rosencrantz in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Pozo in Waiting For Godot, Kafka in Kafka EkAdhyay, Professor John in Olianna . Mr. Baral’s forceful presence in Nepali theatre has been source of inspiration for theatre lovers, theatre activists and practitioners. His directorial ventures that are widely acclaimed include – The Justice, Malami, Jatsodhnujogiko, Apatra, kathadesh, Khuma, Thangla, BakiUjyalo, TalakjungvsTulke, Medea, Kafka EkAdhyaay, Oh! Star Duniyan and Memories Of Legend (A multimedia theatre collaboration of Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and organized by Japan foundation).

He has been exploring film acting and continuing with rigorous theatrical activism. He was awarded the RastriyaPratibhaPuraskar for his contribution to theatre in 1999 and won the best Actor’s award for his role in Dasdhunga, an investigative historical Cinema in 2010. Recently he has awarded by BalkrishnaSama Award 2013. Despite being involved in the burgeoning film industry in Nepal and contributing to developing a pool of actors for the big screen, Anup has been working as Artistic Director of Actors’ Studio and continuing to impart instruction on all aspects of production and acting.

Cast of Court Martial
Rajesh Hamal
B.S. Rana
Subima Shrestha
Bikram Pariyar
Rajendra Shrestha
Deeya Maskey
Subash Thapa
Karma
Dayahang Rai
Manish Niraula
Raj Thapa
Allen Gurung
Ramesh Shrestha
Suraj Thakuri
Anoj Pandey
Madan Shrestha
Pradip Khadka
Sudam CK
Sushil Sitaula
Nobel Upreti

Crew of Court Martial
Stage Manager Dev Neupane
Costume and Makeup Deeya / Ramesh / Sudam
Set and Props ShilasaRajbhandari and HitmanGurung
Music Jason Kuwar
Sound Craft Dev Neupane
Light Aashant Sharma
Video Roenish Sharma