Tickets are available for $25 in advance and $30 at the door.
Pay-what-you-can tickets are available.
"About Ram" is an experimental theatrical piece using excerpts from the Bhavbhuti Ramayana and told through animation, projected images, dance, masks and puppets.
Ram, the prince of Ayodhya is exiled by his father, at the instigation of his step mother. He crosses the river to the forest with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman. Sita is kidnapped by Ravan the king of Lanka and kept prisoner. As Ram sits by the ocean looking at Lanka across its vastness his life flashes by, he feels powerless and dejected as he longs to fly across the ocean to his beloved Sita. The puppeteers help him by projecting his desires into the mask of the super hero Hanuman which attaches itself to Rams face, at once turning him into a super powerful simian who leaps across the ocean and reaches Sita.
In this journey and the bloody war that follows with Ravan, Ram becomes a king, forced to choose between the duty of the throne and the love of his wife.He rules alone for the next 10,000 years.
This adaptation looks at Ram as a human being and not as God. It traces Rams inner journey as a man tormented by his forced separation from his wife Sita. He then fights a fierce battle with the demons to rescue Sita only to be tormented by his own inner demons. Is Sita still pure? Will the people of Ayodhya ever accept her?
Why the Ramayana?
The reason is two fold. Firstly, to re-look at this ancient epic and find a new way of telling it for young people used to sophisticated technology, television and computer games. Secondly, to explore the possibilities of expanding the boundaries of puppetry from the figure of the puppet, to its manipulators and to its environment.
Katkatha, as a puppet theatre company believe that puppetry is an amalgam of may forms, both plastic and performative and yet it has a distinct identity. Experimenting with different forms will push the boundaries of puppet theatre and expand its identity, a little at a time.
"About Ram" was created with a performance grant from the India Foundation for the Arts and in collaboration with animator Vishal Dar.
All Ages
Learn more about Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust
BOX OFFICE
Puppets in Portland tickets are available through PortTIX, the trusted box office for Mayo Street Arts!
Online: www.porttix.com
Phone: 207-842-0800
Advanced ticket sales end two hours before each event.
Tickets may also be purchased at the door, pending availability.
PAY WHAT YOU CAN
No one will be turned away from PiP events for lack of funds.
ACCESSIBILITY
John Ford Auditorium is located inside Portland High School and is fully accessible. The entrance to the John Ford Auditorium is on Chestnut St, between Cumberland Ave and Congress St.
Accessible parking is available close to the entrance of John Ford Auditorium for those with ADA placards will be directed to designated parking spots by PiP volunteers.
Curbside drop-off is available from Chestnut St, PiP volunteers will be present to direct guests to the entrance of the auditorium.
If you would benefit from additional information or accommodations, we invite you to contact us at pip@mayostreetarts.org or 207-879-4629.
EVENT PARKING
Portland High School is surrounded by paid on-street parking with metered parking 9AM-7PM Monday through Saturday.
Two parking garages are conveniently located near Portland High School:
Elm Street Parking Garage (21 Elm St, Portland ME 04101)
Portland Public Market Parking Garage (315 Cumberland Ave, Portland, ME 04101)
Portland High School is served by many Greater Portland Metro bus routes. Click here to learn more.
SEATING POLICY
We will save your reserved seat until showtime, at which point any unclaimed seats may be offered to other people. Please call our box office at 207-879-4629 if you are running late.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
Audience members — in addition to artists, staff & volunteers — who feel sick or exhibit symptoms of illness should stay home out of respect for others.
CANCELATION POLICY
PiP has a no refund policy for all reservations. In the event that PiP is forced to cancel an event due to weather, illness, etc., refunds will be offered via PortTIX.