Mysore/Mysuru: Rangavalli, an amateur theatre troupe from Mysuru, in association with the Directorate of Kannada and Culture, Bengaluru, will present a five-day theatre festival titled ‘Rangavalli Ranga Sambhrama,’ from Aug. 9 to 13 at Kiru Rangamandira (Mini Theatre) in Kalamandira premises in city, announced Manjunath Shastry, Treasurer of Rangavalli Theatre Troupe.

During a press meet held at Patrakarthara Bhavan on Aug. 5, Manjunath Shastry shared that the Rangavalli troupe is celebrating its 13th anniversary. As a tribute to the renowned photojournalist ‘Nethra’ Raju, a stage has been dedicated in the vicinity of Kiru Rangamandira, where various programmes such as film songs, light music, karaoke music and brass band performances will take place daily at 4.30 pm throughout the festival. Additionally, theatrical plays will be staged inside Kiru Ragamandira at 7 pm on all festival days.

The theatre festival will commence with an inaugural event on Aug. 9 at 4 pm, inaugurated by Sandalwood actor ‘Daali’ Dhananjaya.

Dr. Purushotham Bilimale, a retired Professor from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, will preside. V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, Joint Director, Kannada & Culture Department, Mysuru, Nirmala Mathapati, Deputy Director, Rangayana, Mysuru and M.D. Sudarshan, Assistant Director of Kannada & Culture Department, Mysuru, will  be the chief guests. H.R. Raviprasad, Founder-Member and Convenor, Rangavalli, will be present on the occasion.

On the day of the inauguration, Vidu. Vasavi and Vidu. Harinakshi will present light music programme.

The festival programme for Aug. 10 will feature Vachana Gayana by Prabhu Rao and troupe at 4.30 pm.

At 7 pm, musical play ‘Na Rajaguru,’ based on the life of Pandit Basavaraj Rajaguru and directed by Mahadeva Hadapad, will be presented by Aatamata troupe from Dharwad.

On Aug. 11, Nagesh Kandegala and team will present light music at 4.30 pm, followed by Actreact team staging Athol Fugard’s play ‘Dweepa,’ directed by K.P. Lakshmana, at 7 pm.

On Aug. 12, a karaoke of old film songs will entertain the audience at 4.30 pm. Later at 7 pm, Bangalore Theatre Ensemble, Bengaluru, will stage the play ‘Chekhov to Champagne,’ written by Dr. Hema Pattanashetty and directed by Abhimanyu Bhoopathi.

Wrapping up the festival on Aug. 13, Bharat Brass Band from Mysuru will perform at

4.30 pm and Sathya Shodana Ranga Samudaya, Heggodu, will stage the play ‘Rottiya Saluvagi Eshtella’ based on select stories of P. Lankesh, directed by Dr. M. Ganesh Heggodu, at 7 pm.

The entry fee for all the plays is Rs. 100. However, there will be no entry fee for the programmes held outside Kiru Rangamandira.