Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, March 27: On the occasion of the World Theatre Day the department of culture organised a special theatre workshop in which the eminent theatre director of international repute, Ratan Thiyam and other theatre personalities of Orissa took part, here Friday.
While interacting with the students, theatre directors of the state and others during the course of the workshop, Thiyam said, “It is difficult to understand theatre. It is a kind of dark chamber and you have to search for light in the dark. Once you enter the world you have to continue with your search. It is like a laboratory; you search and invent something like a scientist.”
Speaking about his style of work, he said, “My theatre is a kind of experimentation in space, energy and potentiality of human beings. I do lots of experiments, and don’t follow one style. Now, in modern theatre, we use lots of technology, but I feel technology in theatre should be a kind of support and is not (supposed) to overrule the creative qualities of the artists.”
Sharing about his early days in theatre, Thiyam said, “My parents were Manipuri dancers, so I was born in a kind of theatrical environment. I always had this attraction for costumes, makeup, acting and dance, but never thought to be a theatre artist. I always wanted to be a writer and then I got an opportunity to write a story for a drama club. I used to attain the rehearsal sessions where the director of the drama used to give me guidance about directions and acting, and I think that was that turning point of my life. Just two days before the performance, one actor dropped out and I got the chance to act. That was the beginning and I never looked back.”
Speaking about the theatre and theatre artists in the country, he said, “Nobody respects theatre properly, or feels proud (about it) in general. People are attracted towards stars from other fields, but theatre artists, who are doing very well struggle to get the proper respect. Theatre is alive because of the sincere work done by those artists who respect their work and feel proud about it”.
“It needs attention and recognition from three sectors i.e. academic, social and administration, which will help to change the scenario of theatre in the country” he said, adding that in the international arena, Indian theatre was missing its glory because of lack of money to make it professional.
There are 115 registered theatre groups in the state and around 200 unregistered groups, which regularly organise shows. Abhinaa Routray, general secretary of Orissa Natya Sangha said, “With the contribution of culture department, Orissa Natya Sangha and Sangeet Natak Akademi, many activities for the development of theatre and its artists have been started. To popularise Oriya theatre groups we often organise programmes in different parts of the country. Different workshops are regularly organised in schools, colleges to motivate and inspire students to join theatre, which is often called a dying art form”.
Noted theatre artist from Orissa, Asim Basu, said “Theatre in Orissa has changed a lot. Now it is gaining popularity. It is all because of the efforts of the culture department, Orissa Natya Sangha and Sangeet Natak Akademi that its state is improving. Now artists from different parts of the state, with their groups, are coming up with new ideas, which are attracting audiences.”
In a separate function Ratan Thiyam was felicitated at Rabindra Mandap. On the occasion, Chorus Repertory Theatre, Imphal, staged Macbeth, directed by the veteran stage artist. To Thiyam, Macbeth represents a ‘disease’. And his play, an adoption of Shakespeare’s play of the same name, ends with the dismantling of a larger-than-life image of Macbeth. Macbeth becomes nothing more than much-infected garbage, which singing countrywomen wearing surgical masks sweep away with their brooms.
“Macbeth, to me, represents a disease of disobedient greed for wealth and power, a product of the corrupt mind which affects not only the individual and family members but the entire society. This is the world we live in, all infected or about to be infected by this disease, which warps our vision and makes us believe we know the world, when we never can. The Macbeth disease destroys our spiritual balance and leads to violence, as it does, not only in Manipur and other parts of India but all over the world,” said the master director after the performance.
