Kathmandu, April 30 -- Shilpee Theatre is staging 'Sickle Cell', directed by Sumit Bhandari and written by Gunaraj Pokharel, until May 11.

Through two families, the play presents the stories of the Tharu community, where land politics deprive people of their basic necessities. Using 'Sickle' as a metaphor for the people's struggles, the scenes and dialogue explore the consequences of social disparities.

The setting and characters bring Haliya pratha, also known as the slave system in the Tharu community, to the stage. One of the characters, Meena, resists this social construct, including the problems it imposes on the Sukumbasi community.

"Land politics has given birth to many practices, globally, as well as in our country-slaves, kama...