d.r.i.f.t.

drift reads session XI (Local Shorts)
2018-04-21 18:00 - 19:30 (Asia/Kolkata) | Blossoms Village Resort, Khanyara Road Sidhpur, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176057, India
We’re back with our first reading post the festival! Come listen to a collection of short writings from local dharamshala residents! These pieces came out of a d.r.i.f.t playwriting workshop held by award winning playwright and director Purva Naresh last year.
Coming up!
Aadhar card written by Tenzin Tsering
Crackling Future written by Pratham Jain
The love song of Alfred J Spoofrock written by Gurleen Arora
Gaia written by Mudita Mathur
The texts are very brief so please be on time if you don’t want to miss them
And if you have writing that you want to read out / or be read out in future in readings, come talk to us! We’d be delighted to meet and chat. See you on the 21st at the most lovely rooftop of Blossoms Village Resorts. Come join us!
Pls note: Content not suitable for children below 13.

DRIFT Festival 2018
2018-03-04 | The Clubhouse, Mcleodganj, The Clubhouse, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala
The BIG ONE is here !!!
Our Annual Theatre Festival in the Mountains is here again. Its bigger and better and we’ve got an amazing line-up of workshops and Shows from all over the world.
Along with running an annual program with various schools across Dharamshala, we have also been pro-actively involved with several theatre based workshops and fortnightly reading sessions called the “d.r.i.f.t. Reads”.
All of our work finally culminates into our Theatre Festival from the 1st March to 4th March at the lovely Clubhouse, in Mcleodganj who also hosted us last year.
This year we are featuring:
1. Mandragora Circo, Argentina
2. R.I.P. by Savita Rani, Pondicherry
3. Songs from Snakes, Barefoot Delhi
4. Let’s Outing with Holly & Ddoungyi, Dollkki Puppet Company Korea.
5. Local Shorts, d.r.i.f.t. Dharamshala
6. Puppet Making Workshop, Sarju & Rakesh Bhaat, Kathputhli Colony
7. Introduction to Musical Story-telling, Anant Dayal
8. Acrobatics for 14+, Mandragora Circo, Argentina
9. Creative Writing Workshop, Franzesca Emilia Papale
10. Initiation to Body Movement, Shena Gamat
11. Solo Performance Workshp, Savita Rani, Pondicherry
12. Theatre Based Film Screenings
Ticket Prices:
SHOWS: Rs.50/-
WORKSHOPS: Rs.100/-
Also catch us on the 4th of March for a Big Surprise Package.
We hope to welcome a lot of old and new faces this time around.
P.S: Tickets available at the Venue.

drift reads session X (Folk Tales / लोककथाएँ )
2018-01-23 08:00 - 17:00 | Aman food court, dharamshala, civil bazar, oppsite prayas bhavan, Palampur Road, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176215, India
Dharamshala Residential & International Festival for Theatre presents
d.r.i.f.t. Reads: Session X: लोक कथाएं / Folk Tales
A grandmama tells a tale of the past; of villages and folks who lived together, of men who farmed and toiled; of women who made houses with mud and bricks. Our ancient land has been built on layers of stories passed on from ages past, and what better way for our restless,modern generation to take a break than to reach into the core of the spoken word: Folklore.
So grab yourself a cup of hot masala chai, a packet of biscuits and gather round our playful bunch of readers. This time we present stories from old villages of India, from the wise words of grandparents and elders; stories of morals and fantasia that root themselves in our earthy pasts; where animals and humans alike live; and live to tell.
We’re reading in Civil Bazar, Lower Dharamshala for the first time!!
So come one, come all!
We’ll be reading from a selected collection of folk tales from Punjab, Tibet and closer to home, from Chamba and Kullu. Our readings range from a Grandma’s tale to Modern Contemporary Folk writings.
Meet us at Aman Food Court, with a special call-out to our local janta to come in with their own tales and stories over a cup of chai to beat the chill.
If you wish to be part of d.r.i.f.t. reads or our on-going theatre activities/workshops, do get in touch with us.
We look forward to seeing you there.

DRIFT Reads: Session IX (Travelogues Special)
2017-12-10 16:00 - 17:30 | Illiterati Books & Coffee, Jogiwara Rd, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, 176219, India
Dharamshala Residential & International Festival for Theatre presents
d.r.i.f.t. Reads: Session IX
After a long silence, d.r.i.f.t reads is back for a short while before the christmas break!
Our next reading is a Travelogues Special ! What better place than traveller-filled Dharamshala to read about various travels across the world.
We shall be reading from Martha Gellhorn, Pico Iyer, Tsering Wangmo, Robert Pirsig and many more. To make this reading even more interesting, we’ll be joined by writer Srinath Perur who will be reading from his own travelogue ‘If it’s Monday, it must be Madurai’.
Another bit of exciting news is that Penguin India has gifted d.r.i.f.t fifty-five titles as part of their “readathon” to celebrate books and reading!
We’re very; very excited and will be putting up a list of the titles we have very soon. Please do get in touch with us if you’d like to come, sit and read them in our little reading room
Poster Courtesy: Abhinav Chandel (Chandrakhani Pass, Himachal Pradesh)

Acting & Movement Training Workshop by Niranjani Iyer
2017-10-07 - 2017-10-08 | Tibetan Community Hall, Tibetan Community Hall, Behind Tibetan Welfare Office, Bhagsu Road, India
Tibet Film Festival-India is pleased to host a workshop by the wonderful Niranjani Iyer for aspiring Tibetan actors and theatre enthusiasts in Dharamshala.

This Acting & Movement Training Workshop will focus on getting an understanding of how our body moves. The aim of this workshop will be to reimagine our relationship to our body, spark the imagination, and enable actors to create different physicalities. Participants will take away a new understanding of their body, that of an instrument that actors have at their disposal, and unlock new ways of expression through the body.
Niranjani Iyer is a performer, director, choreographer and educator. She has been living and working between France and India for 17 years. She studied theatre at the Ecole Jacques Lecoq and the Sorbonne University, Paris and is visiting faculty at the National School of Drama, Delhi.
We especially invite aspiring Tibetan actors and theatre enthusiasts to participate in this workshop!
When: 7 & 8 October, 2017
Venue: To be confrmed. Will be in Mcleodganj
Entry: Free
* The only thing we do ask is that once you sign-up, you commit to the entire duration of the workshop out of respect to fellow participants and Niranjani.
To sign up, call 8350907531 or shoot an email to indiacoordinator@tibetfilmfestival.org

DRIFT Reads: Session VIII
2017-10-04 17:30 - 19:00 | Dolls4Tibet Studio, Session Rd, near Kashmir House Hotel, Kotwali Bazaar Dharamsala, Himachal Pradesh, India 176215, India
Dharamshala Residential & International Festival for Theatre presents
d.r.i.f.t. Reads: Session VIII
So the SHAH of BLAH is being chased by the GRUFFALO who’s in cahoots with Gerald the Giraffe but little do they know that Harry Potter and Haroun are just around the corner with a Big Blue Balloon…
Come and listen to what else happens in our evening of reading for Children and Young Adults (Old Adults Welcome tooo !!) at the Dolls4Tibet studio where stories come alive through little handmade dolls !
We’ll be Reading from Harry Potter, Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, Julia Donaldson etc. just to name a few.
Come with Children aged Four to Forever Children at Heart
We look forward to seeing you

Primal SOUND with Anant Dayal WORKSHOP
2017-09-17 - 2017-09-21 | The Ballu, Khanyara - Dari Rd, near Manjhee Valley Tea Factory, Dari, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176057, India
d.r.i.f.t. presents PRIMAL SOUND with Anant Dayal
Those of you who attended our Theatre Festival this March know of the infamous “chop it down chop it down” sound along with that Accordion he played, that has haunted us ever since his stellar performance- The Spirit of the Willow Tree, at the festival.
This time Anant will be in town to share his expertise with all of us in the form of a 5 day Voice & Rhythm workshop at the idyllic
The Ballu
Homestay. (Cost of Workshop: Rs.3000/- incl. of all 5 days)
The cry of joy, the gasp of surprise, even the groan of boredom; breath and voice are among our most instinctive means of expression. Add a dose of rhythm to the mix and Voila! You have the makings of a language that is unique and varied as it is universal.
In this workshop we will first look to gain awareness of our own sonic vocabulary. Next, we will attempt to expland this vocabulary through vocal training and rhythm building. Finally, we will apply the fascinating possibilities of this expressive language in a short devised performance.
Anant is a performance/theatre artist based in Delhi. He says,
“I like to think of myself primarily as a storyteller-musician, certainly much of my work comes about while traversing the boundaries between words and music. I see this workshop as an extension of my creative process, and am really excited to share this leg of the journey with you.”
We at d.r.i.f.t. are trying to build a community of local theatre enthusiasts who could work together in the future for all things theatrical and would value your participation in this endeavour deeply. Look forward to seeing you.
To register for the workshop,
Fees: Rs.3000/- (incl. of all 5 days)

DRIFT Reads: Session VII (Creation Myths Special)
2017-09-16 17:30 - 19:00 | Bogdo Cafe, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India
Dharamshala Residential & International Festival for Theatre presents
d.r.i.f.t. Reads: Session VII
Creation Myths Special.
“Within infinite myths lie an eternal truth
Who sees it all?
Varuna has but a thousand eyes
Indra a hundred
You and I, only two.”
This weekend come listen to us read about the Myths of Creation. On the beginnings of the Universe. Was the universe an outcome of the Big Bang or is there more to the beginning of us? Do all cultures have Creation Myths?
Come hear us read about the Greek, the Indian, the Norse, Maori, and more and lets talk some more about these questions.
Join us at the Lovely Bogdo Cafe overlooking the mystical mountains.
We look forward to seeing you.

DRIFT Reads: Session VI (Lost & Found: Stories of Home & Identity)
2017-08-30 18:00 - 19:30 | Illiterati Books & Coffee, Jogiwara Rd, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, 176219, India
Dharamshala Residential & International Festival for Theatre presents,
d.r.i.f.t. Reads: Session VI. We invite you to our 6th event- Lost & Found: Stories of Home & Identity.
Dharamshala exemplifies our shifting world- ancient and modern cultures, ever moving communities, questioning and trying to find a way forward.
A huge topic and a short evening at the same lovely Cafe Illiterati where we started our book reading journey. Join us for a potpourri of poetry, prose and essays, followed by live music from two talented friends from France.
Come up (or down) and join us on Wednesday, 6pm.
Our Lineup includes:
-A Home in Tibet by Tsering Wangmo
-Will V-day be Me-day by Langston Hughes
-Joothan – A Dalit’s Life by Omprakash Valmiki
-Toba Tek Singh by Saadat Hasan Manto
-A Partition Memoir by Sonia Jabbar
-Some Other Original Works by Dharamshala Residents

DRIFT Reads: Session V (Fairy Tales Special)
2017-08-09 18:00 - 19:30 | The Chocolate Log, McLeodganj Rd, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India
Dharamshala Residential & International Festival for Theatre Presents D.R.I.F.T. Reads: Session V.
Deep enchanted forests, otherworldly creatures, mystical realms & kingdoms; our theme this time around comes along with a sprinkle of magic and stardust; Fairy Tales.
Join us at the stroke of sunset at the dreamy Chocolate Log for a magical evening ; a hot cuppa chocolate & perhaps an apple pie !
Our lineup includes The Famous, The Creative & The Bizarre.
– Rapunzel from The Grimm Tales
– Vikram & Betal
– The Company of Wolves by Angela Carter
– The Moon from The Grimm Tales
– Tibetan Fairy Tales
– Rapunzel from Politically Correct Bedtime Stories
What better way to make night meet day than to call upon the Lands of Forever After. We look forward to seeing you
P.S: Please note that there will be some adult content in the readings.

Drift Reads: Session IV (Original Writings)
2017-07-26 18:00 | Jimmy’s Italian Cuisine, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India
Welcome to d.r.i.f.t Reads: Session IV!
This session’s theme is readings of original work by Dharamshala residents, including poetry and prose by
Avinash Pratap
Bhuchung D.Sonam
Cheryl Kumar Templeton
Cynthia McGowan
Kaysang
Matthew Singh-Toor
Pratham Jain
Priyadarshini Ohol
Topden Tsering
Join us at Jimmy’s Italian Kitchen for a delightful reading of original writings from our very own community, and enjoy a hot cuppa coffee with some tomato basil bruschetta! And if you’re a writer or a budding one and would like to be part of this, do get in touch! This is only the first of more sessions with writings by local residents and we’d love to have more of you be part of this.
Looking forward to seeing you all

An Actor's Role - A 4-Day Acting Workshop with Padma Damodaran
2017-07-13 - 2017-07-16 | Blossoms Village Resort, Khanyara Road Sidhpur, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176057, India
The Actor’s Role:
A four-day workshop to understand the basics of acting and the art of storytelling, facilitated by

drift
. Every actor is essentially subservient to the story he or she is portraying. Understanding the story, the text and its subtext is as important as developing the technical skills he or she must have – in terms of loosening up of the body, exploring and expanding the voice, triggering one’s imagination, and understanding a story and its underlying intentions. The workshop will involve physical, vocal and imagination warm-ups, theatre games, improvisations and playing around with words and text. Participants will also be taken through various exercises in order to understand their own selves and overcome their inhibitions; to develop the fine skill of observation in order to understand how and why people behave the way they do; and to develop a genuine interest in the arts to make their own performances exciting, imaginative and powerful. And of course, what are the stories we are telling and why.

Details:
Dates: 13th – 16th July, 2017
Timings: 3 PM – 5 PM on Thursday and Friday.
11 AM – 5 PM on Saturday and Sunday.
Venue: Blossos Village Resort, Sidhpur
Fees: 3,000 INR (Rs. 2,500 if you register before 5th of July)
We have only 12 seats for the workshop. Please call 83518 09473 to register!

Requirements:
Willingness and passion to participate in all text and floor work, and desire to learn. (Note: the more you give to the work, the more you get out of it.) Participants are encouraged to get short stories/plays they would like to work on as well as monologues/poems that have captivated their hearts. All languages are welcome; preferably, participants should get something in their mother-tongue.

About the instructor:
Padma Damodaran
is a Mumbai-based actor, director, writer and trainer. She has been nominated for acting awards, and is also a founder/co-convenor of Mumbai’s only theatre school –
The Drama School Mumbai
. Padma has an MA in Acting from
East 15 Acting School
, UK.

DRIFT Reads: Session III (Monsoon Special)
2017-07-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Bogdo Cafe, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India
Welcome again to DRIFT Reads: Session III (Monsoon Special)
The rains have hit Dhasa and it’s pouring out there, what better than to curl up with a hot chocolate and listen to a good read from writers all over and feel everything that monsoons can make you feel, but through words.
Come join us at the lovely Bogdo Cafe for readings from Tagore, Kalidasa, Tenzin Tsundue, Gulzar and some extracts about the monsoons from 10th century Arab texts.
We look forward to seeing your lovely faces again

DRIFT Reads : Session II
2017-06-29 18:00 - 19:30 | Seed Cafe, McLeod Ganj, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, India
D.R.I.F.T. Reads is back with its Session II
Come listen to extracts from R.K.Narayan’s Malgudi Days, Ismat Chugtai’s Lihaaf, Orwell’s Animal Farm, Dhondup Gyal’s The Narrow Footpath, and The Wolf Woman (Native American short story). Order a hot glass of ginger lemon honey and enjoy the spectacular views of the Dhauladhars. What better to do with the rains pelting down than listen to some stories!
Readers:
Animal Farm- Matthew & Pratham
Lihaaf- Jyotsna & Rumani
The Narrow Footpath – Tenzin Tsering & Tenzin Kunkey
Malgudi Days- Archana & Gurleen
The Wolf Woman – Sinah Moeller
Watch this space for future readings: Monsoon Stories, Fairy tales, Queer Writing and much much more!
Come talk to us if you like reading aloud too.

D.R.I.F.T. Reads:. Session I
2017-06-13 18:00 - 19:30 | Illiterati Books & Coffee, Jogiwara Rd, Dharamshala, Himachal Pradesh 176219, 176219, India
D.R.I.F.T. is bringing to you it’s new series called the D.R.I.F.T. Reads.
If you like reading aloud or like listening to people read, this is just the thing for you.
Come join us for our first session of readings with a warm cuppa coffee at your favourite cafe in town, Illiterati Cafe!
We’ll be reading out a sélection from a radio play/short stories/plays by authors such as Oliver Sacks, Haruki Murakami, Roald Dahl, Sadat Hasan Manto. etc.
If you have any suggestions for us and/or would like to join us as readers for the following sessions, get in touch with us!

D.R.I.F.T dharamshala residential and international festival for theatre 2017
2017-03-25 - 2017-03-26 | The Clubhouse, Mcleodganj, The Clubhouse, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala
D.R.I.F.T
dharamshala residential and international festival for theatre
a year-long theatre adventure starting on
25-26 MARCH 2017
at the Bhagsu CLUBHOUSE, Mcleodganj, Dharamshala.
PROGRAMME :
25th March
11-12 PM : PRODUCTION FOR THEATRE, discussion with Tapesh Sharma
12-1 PM : LIGHTING FOR THEATRE, discussion with Ashish Paliwal
2-4 PM : THEATRE MOVEMENT, workshop with Shena Gamat
5 PM : « SPIRIT OF THE WILLOW TREE »
a story-telling an musical performance by Anant Dayal
7PM : « LADY ANANDI »
a documentary theatre performance byAnuja Ghosalkar.
26th March
11-1 PM : VOICE and RHYTHM, workshop with Anant Dayal
2-4 PM : DOCUMENTARY THEATRE, workshop with Anuja Ghosalkar
7 PM : « I LOVE YOU, LET’S HAVE SEX »
an interactive theatre performance by Barefoot.
