Mysuru: Mysore English Theatre Forum (METF) is conducting the third edition of College English Theatre Festival 2024 from Sept. 27 to 29 at RamaGovinda Rangamandira in Ramakrishnanagar here.

Veteran theatre artiste Rameshwari Verma will inaugurate the Fest on Sept. 27 at 4 pm, in the presence of Principals of participating colleges. Verma has sponsored the entire Festival, in memory of her late husband, Prof. Balagopalan Verma, who taught English at the Regional College of Education.

SCHEDULE

Sept. 27 (4 pm): Inauguration; (5 pm): ‘A Sunny Morning’ by Sarada Vilas College. The play, written by Serafin & Joaquin AQ, and directed by Sabeena, is a touching one-act play featuring Don Gonzalo and Doña Laura, an elderly couple. Set in a sunlit garden, they engage in a warm conversation, reminiscing about their past and the love they shared.

Sept. 28 (5 pm): ‘The Solemn Retreat’ by St. Philomena’s College. This play is written by Suhan Poovaiah and co-directed by Suhan Poovaiah, Reena Joyce and Nidhi Gummadi. In the fleeting moments of life, we often tend to forget to nurture the feelings of contentment, harmony and gratitude. Yet life never ceases to surprise us with a mixture of elements that we are destined to experience.

Sept. 28 (7 pm): ‘As You Like It’ by Slate by Cresta. This play by William Shakespeare, is directed by C.N. Pallavi. It is a comedy that follows Rosalind, who flees to the Forest of Arden with her cousin Celia and the court jester, Touchstone, after being banished by her uncle.

Sept. 29 (5 pm): ‘Oliver Wants More’ by Sapient College of Commerce. Charles Dickens wrote Oliver Twist, of which this is an excerpt, directed by Mohammed Umar. This play follows the journey of an orphan, Oliver, who escapes to London. There, despite falling into the hands of criminals, Oliver remains innocent and kind-hearted.

Sept. 29 (7 pm): ‘The Bear’ by MMK&SDM College. This play by Anton Chekhov is directed by Ujwala S. Shetty. It is a one-act comedic farce about a grieving widow, Elena Popova, and a brash landowner, Grigory Smirnov, who comes to collect a debt owed by her late husband. The play is a witty exploration of love, pride and the absurdity of human emotions.

For details, contact METF Convenor Seemanthini B. Sharma on Mob: 98864-57987.