KATHMANDU:- St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar, Department of Major Arts, opened its latest theatrical production, Jhola Harayeko Manchhey, at Loyola Hall. The play, performed by BA fourth-year students studying Drama and Novel, completed two sold-out shows on Friday, with audiences from the college and the wider community.

The production continued on 14 February with two shows staged at 9:45 AM and 12:45 PM.

The play brings to light the often-overlooked stories of individuals passing through struggle, normalcy, ambition, art, and self-discovery. The play follows Rudra Prasad “Rudre” Pokharel, a young man from Panchthar whose dreams of migrating to Qatar for employment are jeopardised when his bag, containing his passport, goes missing on his first day in the city.

As Rudre wanders the city searching for what he lost, he encounters a series of striking characters, each carrying their own fracture. A polished college youth hiding a pistol in an Immanuel Kant book. An eccentric astrologer who warns that losing one’s identity is worse than losing material possessions. A middle-aged man spiralling into an existential crisis over a missing lighter and a Maithili-speaking fruit seller reflecting on commodified identity.

Rudre’s turning point arrives at a small roadside eatery run by Muna, a woman abandoned by her migrant husband, who rebuilt her life through resilience. Alongside her is Neha, an aspiring artist shaped by childhood loss, torn between personal dreams and familial responsibility.

“The play Jhola Harayeko Manchhey is far deeper than its modest title suggests,” said Fr. Dr Augustine Thomas, S.J., principal of the college. “Through striking simplicity, it gives voice to the untold stories of ordinary people. Its themes pierce the heart of everyone because all of us have lost someone, something, or even unspoken dreams.”

With a mixture of satire and realism, the play asks urgent questions: In a city full of temples, why do so many feel abandoned? When dreams travel abroad, what happens to the ones left behind? And when everything seems lost, what remains? A moving portrait of contemporary Nepal, the play transforms a missing bag into a metaphor for a generation searching for itself.

Theatre artist Rupesh Lama, who mentored the students, emphasised the importance of theatre in educational institutions. “Having opportunities for students to practice theatre is especially important today, in a time of widespread chaos and uncertainty,” said Lama. “Learning its basics can enhance self-expression, support mental well-being, and help individuals see the world from new perspectives”. Lama compared theatre to meditation or yoga, suggesting it can be a form of emotional and psychological nourishment for everyone, not just aspiring performers.

The production is a practical extension of the Drama and Novel (ENGL 426) course, allowing students to translate dramatic theory into performance.