(Top) Artistes of Delhi-based Chilsag Chillies group and those of a group from Iran perform at Kala Vikash Kendra in Cuttack. Pictures by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 29: Noted actress and singer Vasundhara Das took centre stage during a play staged on the third day of the ongoing International Theatre Festival at Kala Vikash Kendra yesterday.

Performing the lead character, Sofia, in the play The Play begins @ 8pm, Das depicted her passion and struggle for keeping the art of theatre alive. Her performance received resounding applause from the audience. The play was staged by the artistes of the Chilsag Chillies group, New Delhi.

The play revolved around two characters, including Sofia, who always gives her best when it comes to staging a performance. However, Sofia’s friend is shocked by the news of her death in a road mishap and decides to essay her role in a play that was scheduled to begin at 8pm.

Later, a comic play by artistes from Iran was also staged. The play, Tengo, the Bear, was an adaptation from Anton Chekov’s short story. It told the story of the life of a widow Akisan who lives in an Ozakazen monastery.

Marathi play Zimmad also received a rave response. Zimmad, which means the sound of rain in Marathi, is a collection of 52 poems written by different poets. The play struck a chord with the audience as it depicted the beauty and importance of rain in everyday life.

“All the three plays were interesting as far as the content was concerned. However, it was the Marathi play that was more appealing since its subject was beautiful,” said Srikanta Mohanty, a member of the audience. Besides the plays, a Bharatnatyam performance by the dancers of School of Dance, Mysore, was an added attraction.

The 19th India Theatre Olympiad and International Theatre Festival being organised by the Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangha (UYSS) saw participation from 3,000 dramatists, actors, playwrights and choreographers from over 100 theatre and dance groups.

International groups from Bangladesh, Iran, the USA and other countries were participating in the International Theatre Festival that would conclude on September 30, said UYSS general secretary Kartik Rath.