The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), with 22 tour members led by director Dhondup Tsering and artistic director Tenzin Phuntsok, participated in the 10th National Theatre Olympics, Budapest, Hungary at their invitation.
TIPA played the story Nangsa Obum one of the eight epic classical stories of the Ache Lhamo tradition attended by 400 opera associations from 58 countries. It was the first time for TIPA to attend a global event of such significance to showcase its rich cultural heritage to an international audience.
On June 10th, 2023, at an earlier public meeting with about 200 attendees, scholars, and intellectuals were held to introduce Tibetan opera and TIPA’s participation in the 10th National Theatre Opera Marathon. Mrs. Sophie, the organizing secretary emphasized the relevance of asking the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts to participate in the 10th Theatre Olympics, displaying Tibet’s distinct opera.
TIPA’s director spoke on the evolution of Tibetan opera and the inception Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in exile. By emphasizing that, among the many and diverse traditions of Tibetan performing arts, Ache Lhamo has been undoubtedly the most popular and widely practiced. It was inscribed on UNESCO’s list of intangible cultural heritage in 2009, to emphasize that this drama is a valuable world-class art masterpiece that should be preserved and transmitted to future generations in Tibet today. In many places, it has transformed and made nearly unrecognizable. That is why, at TIPA, we seek to preserve this art form in its most authentic form.
The performance was followed by a question-and-answer session with the director and the artistic director.
Mr. Vidnyanszky Attlia – Director of the National Theatre and Artistic Director of the 10th Theatre Olympics gave a welcome speech and presented souvenirs to TIPA in honorof Tibetan participation in the Olympics. The TIPA director also presented mementos to the Director and the organizing committee for extending an invitation.
Soon after the opening ceremony, TIPA played the condensed version of the opera Nangsa Obum” to suit the event’s format. Subtitles in English and Hungarian were provided for the convenience of the international audience.
The theatre was full to its capacity of over 600 people who sat through the show spellbound in profound silence and deep fascination. At the end of the show, the entire audience, save none, gave a standing and thundering applause.
The audience was appreciative of Tibetan Opera as it had a strong moral of cultivating love and compassion which the world needs at this juncture. The play was live broadcast and thousands enjoyed it virtually from across the world.
This was a rare honour and privilege for TIPA to showcase the rich tradition to an international audience and spread the message of world peace as advocated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
