(Thakhellambam Raghumani Singh is a member of the Kanglei Mime Theatre Repartory, Imphal. He visited the Animation Workshop on 2 March 2012 with two members of his group to share his experience in acting for animation).
Do you use content from folktales in your performances?
In our mime group we do occasionally do folktales but our style is non verbal. Mostly though we focus on burning topics of the current time, social issues that kind of thing. For example Sharmila – you have heard of her – she has been on a fast now for a very long time in protest. We stage performances to make people aware of the situation here in Manipur.
In our mime group we do occasionally do folktales but our style is non verbal. Mostly though we focus on burning topics of the current time, social issues that kind of thing. For example Sharmila – you have heard of her – she has been on a fast now for a very long time in protest. We stage performances to make people aware of the situation here in Manipur.
Where did you learn mime acting?
The Director of our group, Y. Sandana Singh introduced us all to mime. There are around 25 members in our group and four of them are women. They are all from the Meitei community, no one from the tribes.
The Director of our group, Y. Sandana Singh introduced us all to mime. There are around 25 members in our group and four of them are women. They are all from the Meitei community, no one from the tribes.
Do you know the story we are working on for the animation film?
My grandmother would tell me the story of “Tapta" when I was a small child, I remember it well. But there are many versions of the story. There are a lot of folktales here that would make good animation films for children. “Tapta” is a very popular story, everyone here in Manipur knows it. It is mostly from the Meitei community but there are similar stories in the other communities too. Animation is a good way of communicating culture, but I don’t know much about it as I am a theatre actor. I tried my best today to contribute to the story.
My grandmother would tell me the story of “Tapta" when I was a small child, I remember it well. But there are many versions of the story. There are a lot of folktales here that would make good animation films for children. “Tapta” is a very popular story, everyone here in Manipur knows it. It is mostly from the Meitei community but there are similar stories in the other communities too. Animation is a good way of communicating culture, but I don’t know much about it as I am a theatre actor. I tried my best today to contribute to the story.
Is theatre popular with the tribes too?
Theatre is very rare amongst the tribes. For one thing, there is the language differences. The tribes have their own culture and traditions. In the early days things were more similar but now religions, languages and habit are different, and there is not much cross over. We need to find out more about their traditions.
Sometimes we have performed on tribal themes. Before joining this group I was with one called Theatre Mirror and at that time we also dealt with tribal issues such as violence in the hill regions.
How old is the theatre tradition in Manipur?
Theatre has a long history here – say from 1901 onwards. There are a lot of traditional art forms here and there are elements of theatre in these arts too.
You have performed abroad too?
Yes, performed our play “Mirel Mashinga” in South Korea and Armenia recently.
Theatre is very rare amongst the tribes. For one thing, there is the language differences. The tribes have their own culture and traditions. In the early days things were more similar but now religions, languages and habit are different, and there is not much cross over. We need to find out more about their traditions.
Sometimes we have performed on tribal themes. Before joining this group I was with one called Theatre Mirror and at that time we also dealt with tribal issues such as violence in the hill regions.
How old is the theatre tradition in Manipur?
Theatre has a long history here – say from 1901 onwards. There are a lot of traditional art forms here and there are elements of theatre in these arts too.
You have performed abroad too?
Yes, performed our play “Mirel Mashinga” in South Korea and Armenia recently.
Can you make a living as an actor in Manipur?
In Manipur it is difficult to manage as an actor so we have to do other jobs too, such as working in shops, offices or teaching. The Art and Culture Department helps us out but it is a struggle. Theatre is a strong Meitei tradition. Last year I attended a workshop on oral history and visual documentation at the Jawaharlal Nehru Museum and Library in Delhi. We also did a theatre workshop in Mizoram in 2008. Both young and old enjoy our plays.
In Manipur it is difficult to manage as an actor so we have to do other jobs too, such as working in shops, offices or teaching. The Art and Culture Department helps us out but it is a struggle. Theatre is a strong Meitei tradition. Last year I attended a workshop on oral history and visual documentation at the Jawaharlal Nehru Museum and Library in Delhi. We also did a theatre workshop in Mizoram in 2008. Both young and old enjoy our plays.
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