Ithihasam – a Shakespearean drama in Malayalam to be staged in Oman Film Society on November 3 and 4 is poised to become one of the biggest productions in Oman.

Muscat – “All the world’s a stage and men and women are merely players’ – this sentiment seemed to echo through the clammy interior of a dingy rehearsal hall in CBD Ruwi.

Ophelia, Desdemona, ran around in gorgeous attire while royal family members from England decked in flowing gowns and garters danced to the tunes of daffodils and tulips. Oman’s theatrical arena is now getting set for an extraordinary portrayal of the life of William Shakespeare – in Malayalam. The drama is being presented by IOC Events LLC and is supported by Bhavalaya global platform for promotion of Art and Culture along with Oman Theatre Society with Dr. J Retnakumar as the organising committee chairman, Zia ul Haq Lari, vice-chairman Mansoor Ahmed as the convener.

Let that not make you squirm or shudder in disillusionment, for language is no barrier in any epic theatrical presentation wherein the message is conveyed with many a non-verbal cues, and the grandeur of the entire production transcends cultures and races in overwhelming the audience,

The play, to be staged on November 3 and 4 at the Oman Film Society, will feature over 40 artists and extras who have been grooving to old anglo saxon music, costumes and stages for the past few weeks. The two hour play will have sub-titles in English and Arabic displayed on screens and is set to become one of the biggest Shakespearean productions in recent times. It is presented by International Organisation Creative Events and Bhavalaya Art and Cultural Foundation.

Tension and emotion

Muscat Daily managed to take a peep at one of the dress rehearsals last weekend and the experience seemed praiseworthy. The air was charged with an extraordinary blend of tension and emotion.

Amidst the confusion of blocking, costume changes, and lighting adjustments, remarkable transformations took place. Oman got transformed to an Elizabethan realm, transporting the audience to a time of quills and candlelight, of passion and melodrama.

There were shouts from the director, Rajesh Balakrishnan, who kept intervening to instruct the actors and the technical hands as the play artfully unveiled the Shakespearean inner sanctum, revealing how his own life experiences ignited the flames of creativity. The characters he etched were not mere ink on parchment, they were an extension of lively reflections of his own journey.

As the actors portraying characters like Desdemona and Ophelia delved into their roles, the atmosphere grew charged with intensity. Sweat poured from their brows as they put their hearts and souls into their performances. You notice, that their voices underwent a profound transformation, abandoning normalcy as they wept, laughed, screamed, making each emotion appear larger than life.

As the final curtain fell, the actors could be seen drawing deep sighs of relief in the wings, their exhaustion mingling with triumph. It was a surreal sight to witness the gentle Biju, who played the lead as Shakespeare, come into his own self once the director’s voice commanded the lights to dim.

Emerging out of his own personality, one could see that Biju he had an uncanniness of stepping into the shoes of the bard and getting consumed by the spirit of Shakespeare and the world he had brought to life.

Balakrishnan said, “Crafting the drama Ithihasam was an epic journey filled with immense struggle. Our greatest challenge was managing the time of our dedicated working professional actors, who rehearsed tirelessly for six months. Each character was fashioned considering the depths of their voices and appearances, a testament to their commitment.

Celebrity greed

“In moments when rehearsals faltered, I refrained from losing my temper, knowing it would only add to the overall stress. Instead, I sought to inspire them with a sense of ‘celebrity greed’ after each performance, reminding them of the extraordinary work they were part of.

“I encourage many actors to transform physically, working out to change their looks, embodying different characters. Crafting a play centred around the complex character like William Shakespeare was both, a daunting and enriching, task. Night after night, I delved deep into the psyche of William, striving to feel and understand his profound consciousness and the intricacies of the story. In the end, Ithihasam became a testament to the dedication and resilience of our remarkable cast and the enduring power of storytelling.”

Dr J Retnakumar, president and founder of Bhavalaya Art and Cultural Foundation, which is presenting the show, said, “The inspiration to bring Shakespearean theatre to Oman was born from a deep desire to infuse our culture with the timeless brilliance of the Bard. It was a journey marked by relentless struggle, assembling a vast cast and crew dedicated to the cause.

“We faced the monumental task of recreating the old English world on stage, and we were fortunate to have special stage craft experts join us from India. Ithihasam is our labour of love, a testament to the power of collaboration and the unwavering belief in the transformative magic of theatre.”