Prison inmates stage Kannada version of William Shakespeare’s King Lear

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 3, 2012 : The presentation of William Shakespeare’s King Lear in Kannada on stage was so flawless and spectacular that one couldn’t have imagined that the actors were prison inmates. A total of 80 inmates of Dharwad, Belgaum, Bangalore, and Mysore jails played different roles in this play, which was presented on July 2, Monday.

 

 

 

Hulugappa Kattimani, the theatre artiste, said that theatre has therapeutic values and can change an individual’s opinion of him/herself. Kattimani is the director of Sankalpa, an organization that trains prisoners in the art of theatre.

When a reporter asked Mr. Kattimani if he does not worry about a prisoner escaping during the training, a prisoner responded by saying that nobody will be able to play his role if he escaped.

He also said that he had decided to stage a play in Mangalore as a mark of tribute to B. V. Karanth, his guru.

The above-mentioned play was staged as part of the 4-day theatre festival, which was inaugurated in Town Hall. Mr. Ronald Colaco, NRI entrepreneur, and his son Nigel presented cheques and bags among 43 deserving children of policemen.