The 16th edition of Thespo, annual
drama festival for theatre-wallahs below the age of 25, will take place from
15th to 21st December 2014.Organized by QTP, under the aegis of Theatre Group
Bombay, it will be taking place at the iconic Prithvi Theatre and Sitara Studio,
the city’s latest indie cultural space that used to stage Marathi plays back in
the 1970s. The festival is centered on the theme ‘Plug-In to the Tamasha’.
This year, at the Thespo 16 Awards
Night, Theatre Group Bombaywill presentthe Lifetime Achievement Award to Joy
Michael. She is the founder of Yatrik Theatre in Delhi - a bilingual repertory
company that believes that the arts are a dynamic living force. Over the years
they have regularly staged performances of theatre and other arts and built a
dedicated audience for the same. She has been the artistic director of the
group for over 40 years and has helmed over 250 plays in her lifetime.
Theatre Group Bombay has
consistently believed in sharing the best of the Indian theatre world with the
young theatre practitioners and audiences at Thespo and Joy Michael stands
among one of the most dedicated theatre professionals. Alyque Padamsee,
President of Theatre Group Bombay has had the privilege of working with Joy Michael
in 1971, when he directed Medeafor Yatrik Theatre.
Joy Michael is an artist in every
sense of the word. Theatre has been her life, her drive, her passion, her
obsession. She studied literature at St.Stephens where she became the first
woman secretary of the Shakespeare Society, then went to the London Academy of
Music and Dramatic Art forprofessional theatre training. Traveled far and wide,
she directed and lectured in some American Universities. She has been principal
of St. Thomas’ Girls School, Delhi for about 15 years and did pioneering work
in bringing about moral education and social services.
Theatre Group Bombay strongly
believes that her contribution to theatre in India cannot be matched. Says
Alyque Padamsee, President of Theatre Group Bombay, “Joy Michael is a giant in
the world of Indian theatre. Her sterling years of service to the theatre
community make her a stalwart and her dedication to the craft has been an
inspiration for many.”Joy Michael has been recognized and felicitated for her outstanding
contribution to theatre, which includes the Padma Shri awarded to her by the
Government of India in 2012, the SangeetNatak Academy Award for Theatre
Direction in 2009. She wasalso awarded the Emeritus Theatre Director by the
Ministry of Culture.
With so many years of love,
enthusiasm and passion for theatre, Joy Michael truly has had a lifetime of
achievements. Theatre Group Bombay, Thespo and the young theatre practitioners
will celebrate and honour her accomplishments at the Thespo 16 Awards Night
ceremony.
For information on the complete
schedule of events, ticket prices, etc., please visit www.thespo.org.
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