Hojang Taret

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Hojang Taret
Original title Ancient Greek: Φοίνισσαι, romanized: Phoinissai, lit. ' The Phoenician Women '
Written by Euripides [lower-alpha 1]
Based on Ancient Greek: Φοίνισσαι, romanized: Phoinissai, lit. ' The Phoenician Women '
ChorusPhoenician women
Characters
Date premiered16 April 2018 [1]
Place premiered Imphal, Manipur [2]
Original language Meitei language (Manipuri language) [lower-alpha 2] [3]
Genre Greek tragedy
SettingBefore the royal palace of Ancient Thebes (Boeotia)

Hojang Taret is a classical Meitei language play based on Euripides's ancient Greek tragedy The Phoenician Women. [4] It is directed by Oasis Sougaijam and produced by The Umbilical Theatre in Imphal, Kangleipak ( Meitei for ' Manipur '). [5] [6] [7] It depicts the moral ambiguities of conflict between brothers resulting to the ruination of the ancient city of Thebes. [8] [9] [10]

Contents

Plot

Before mother Jocasta takes her own life, she has attempted to bring concord between her two sons, Eteocles and Polyneices. The two brothers are having a strong conflict to achieve the throne. Her sons do not listen to any of her words. All her efforts to avoid the occurrence of a tragic loss of the precious lives of her beloved children are futile. Thus, both the princes ended up their lives killing each other. Queen Jocasta's grief knows no bound. Finally, she commits suicide. Immediately afterwards, the city of Thebes witnesses its destruction. [11] [12] [13]

Overview

While the play Hojang Taret was performed in the 13th edition of the Mahindra Excellence Theatre Awards (META), Oasis Sougaijam, the director of Hojang Taret, [14] [15] noted:

“Focus is to blend the physical movement, visual imagery and music into a visual narrative. ... Hojang Taret is a classical Greek tragedy, written by Euripides, relevant even today. The long struggle for our Independence and the division of our country resonated with me. These similarities of the aftermath of war, pertinent even after 2,500 years, induced me to pick this play for a larger audience. The focus of my direction is to blend the physical movement, visual imagery and music into a visual narrative with multimedia element.”

Oasis Sougaijam, Director, Hojang Taret [16]

Besides the META, the play was presented in the 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav organized by the Ministry of Culture (India), [17] following a selection process and a screening process for the event. [18]

On 8 March 2018, the play was also performed in the 8th Theatre Olympics 2018, [19] in Bhanja Kala Mandap, BJB Nagar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha. [20]

See also

Notes

  1. He's the original author.
  2. It is the original language of the version of a literary adaptation.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eteocles</span> Mythological king of Thebes

In Greek mythology, Eteocles was a king of Thebes, the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia. Oedipus killed his father Laius and married his mother without knowing his relationship to either. When the relationship was revealed, he was expelled from Thebes. The rule passed to his sons Eteocles and Polynices. However, because of a curse from their father, the two brothers did not share the rule peacefully and died as a result, ultimately killing each other in battle for control of the city. Upon his death, Eteocles was succeeded by his uncle, Creon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Polynices</span> Mythological prince of Thebes

In Greek mythology, Polynices was the son of Oedipus and either Jocasta or Euryganeia and the older brother of Eteocles. When Oedipus was discovered to have killed his father and married his mother, Oedipus was expelled from Thebes, leaving Eteocles and Polynices to rule. Because of a curse put on them by their father, the two sons did not share the rule peacefully. During a battle for control over Thebes, the brothers killed each other.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jocasta</span> Greek mythological Queen of Thebes

In Greek mythology, Jocasta, also rendered Iocaste and also known as Epicaste, was a daughter of Menoeceus, a descendant of the Spartoi Echion, and queen consort of Thebes. She was the wife of first Laius, then of their son Oedipus, and both mother and grandmother of Antigone, Eteocles, Polynices and Ismene. She was also sister of Creon and mother-in-law of Haimon.

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<i>The Phoenician Women</i> Ancient Greek tragedy by Euripides

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References

  1. "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  2. "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  3. "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  4. "At This Stage | 2018: Looking back". The Indian Express. 2018-12-25. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  5. "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  6. "WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 10 META PLAYS? - Art Culture Festival". 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  7. "Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  8. "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  9. "WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 10 META PLAYS? - Art Culture Festival". 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  10. "Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  11. "Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  12. "WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 10 META PLAYS? - Art Culture Festival". 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  13. "Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards". Hojang Taret- A Greek Tragedy brought to Life - Mahindra Excellence in Theatre Awards. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  14. "Theatre and its thespians". The Statesman.
  15. "WHAT TO EXPECT FROM 10 META PLAYS? - Art Culture Festival". 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2023-08-24.
  16. "Theatre and its thespians". The Statesman.
  17. "AHAL AMADI EPAK – 20th Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2019" . Retrieved 2023-08-24. It participated in the 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav and 8th Theatre Olympic with the play Hojang Taret directed by Oasis Sougaijam. Recently, the play has won three Mahindra Excellency in Theatre Awards 2018.
  18. "List of plays selected by the Screening Committee for 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav" (PDF). National School of Drama, Government of India .
  19. "AHAL AMADI EPAK – 20th Bharat Rang Mahotsav 2019" . Retrieved 2023-08-24. It participated in the 19th Bharat Rang Mahotsav and 8th Theatre Olympic with the play Hojang Taret directed by Oasis Sougaijam. Recently, the play has won three Mahindra Excellency in Theatre Awards 2018.
  20. "Theatre Olympics 2018 - Hojang Taret" . Retrieved 2023-08-24.