Kutiyattam: A Thousand Years of Sanskrit Theatre with the Nepathya Ensemble from Kerala

With roots that stretch back at least 1000 years, Kutiyattam is one of India’s oldest living theatrical traditions. It is a combination of ancient Sanskrit theatre with elements of the regional performance tradition of Koothu. Inscribed by by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Kutiyattam is known for its stylized and codified language of bodily expression, intricate and vibrant makeup and costuming, rhythmic soundscapes, and immersive explorations of Sanskrit epics; actors undergo rigorous training to establish the necessary breath and subtle muscle movement control required by the form. Traditionally performed in Kerala’s temples, this is a rare chance to experience in Canada this living, breathing, timeless expression of art by one of the world’s leading Kutiyattam ensembles – Nepathya. Nepathya will perform “The Auspicious Flower” (Kalyanasaugandhikam), a tenth-century play telling an episode from the Mahabharata in which the mighty hero Bhima encounters the divine monkey Hanuman.