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Fast Facts
Built In 1944
Built By Prithviraj Kapoor
Architecture Theatre
Prithvi Theatres, started by the late actor Prithviraj Kapoor,
is one of Mumbai's best known theatres, a hub of theatrical
performances with social themes. Tucked away at a very short
distance from the Juhu Beach, Prithvi Theatres belongs to the
Kapoors, founding family of Bollywood. Theatre and film festivals,
retrospectives, discussions, book reading sessions are regularly
coordinated here. This happening complex is a favorite haunting
ground of the urban intelligentsia.
History
A Hindi theatre company called Prithvi Theatres, started by
the late Prithviraj Kapoor, stormed into the arena of Indian
theatre in 1944 with their production of Kalidasa's "Shakuntala".
The troupe, under the direction of its actor-manager Prithviraj,
toured India for 16 years. Another theatrical company, Shakespeareana,
was also traveling India during this time. Guided by the husband-wife
duo Geoffrey and Laura Kendal, Shakespeareana performed Shakespeare
and contemporary English theatre. It was through the meeting
of the Prithvi Theatres and Shakespeareana at the Royal Opera
House in Bombay that the Prithvi Theatres, as we know it today,
came into being.
Features
The Prithvi Theatres was a traveling theatre company with a
permanent staff comprising of 150 dedicated actors, stagehands,
cooks, writers and technicians, performing plays throughout
the country. Some of the plays which made it instantly popular
were "Deewar" (Wall), "Pathaan" (Pathaan),
"Ghaddar" (Traitor), "Aahuthi" (Offering),
"Kalaakar" (Painter), "Paisa" (Money) and
"Kisaan" (Farmer). These plays were written exclusively
for Prithvi Theatres with Prithviraj playing the lead in all
the productions.
The Prithvi Theatres was one of the first professional Hindi
theatre groups which initiated a modern theatre movement which
slowly but steadily started developing all over the country.
Prithvi Theatres emerged at a time when the country was going
through tremendous political upheavals with the vision of its
founder-figure that theatre has the potential of bringing about
social change.
Don't Miss
Don't Miss the year-long series of events and plays directed
by the eminent playwrights of our times.
Trivia
Shashi Kapoor, Prithviraj Kapoor's youngest son, who was working
as an actor in the Prithvi Theatres, married Jennifer Kendal,
the leading actress of Shakespeareana and the daughter of Laura
and Geoffrey Kendal.
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