Revival of ‘Sirumarani’ at Mandala Theatre (Photos)
Kathmandu: The folk drama Sirumarani, which launched the acting journey of now-renowned actor and theatre artist Dayahang Rai 23 years ago, has been re-staged at Mandala Theatre.
Originally written by playwright Sarubhakta, the play was first performed at Rastriya Naach Ghar under the direction of Anup Baral.
After the establishment of Mandala Theatre in Anamnagar, Sirumarani was restaged in 2015 (2072 BS), this time under Dayahang Rai’s direction. That production featured Lab-4 students, including Bijay Baral, Somnath Khanal, and Anup Neupane, among others.
In 2018 (2075 BS), the play was staged again — this time under the direction of Somnath Khanal — during the inauguration of Pokhara Theatre.
Now, in 2025 (2082 BS), Sirumarani returns once more to Mandala Theatre, directed by Anup Neupane and Sumitra Pehim, with a cast of 33 students from Lab-17.
Sirumarani is a folk drama centered on the story of a rebellious woman. The narrative explores human emotions, ego, defiance, and resilience. It delves into a woman’s struggle to protect her identity, critiques the fragility of power-driven systems, and celebrates the courage to embrace life as it is.
The play began regular performances on Bhadra 11 (August 27) and features 33 trainee actors, including Sayujya Bhandari, Chandani Shrestha, Sushmita Shrestha, Sahishma Khadka, Tarun Deuba, Sujan Ghimire, and Amrit Sunar.
Sirumarani will run through Asoj 5 (September 21, 2025). Except for Mondays, shows will be held daily at 5:15 PM, with an additional matinee on Saturdays at 1:15 PM.
(Glimpses of Sirumarani)
(Photos: Saroj Basnet)