Sharath Srivatsa and

Rasheed Kappan

BANGALORE: What can the Government do to bring back the lost glory of theatre in Bangalore, and revitalise the city's status as a hub of dramatics. Suggestions are aplenty. Veteran theatre persons, professionals and idea-rich amateurs voice the urgent need for upgradation of theatre infrastructure.

The Karnataka Nataka Academy has proposed a Theatre Development Board to bring all theatres under different government agencies in its fold. Public-private partnership in upgrading stage technology is another idea proposed by theatre personalities. This, they believe, can help introduce the latest technology to theatre. Service charges can be levied on the theatre groups who want to use the technology.

Theatre design has not been a strength of auditoriums in Bangalore. Most theatres, say dramatists, are designed for multi-purpose activities. The design focus is limited to the exterior elevation, shedding little light on the crucial "stage."

Theatres are not merely buildings, reminds the Nataka Academy chairman Srinivas Kappanna. "The auditoriums should be built around the stage, which would meet the needs of the theatre activities. Engineers tend to design the auditorium and then try to accommodate the stage into it." These problems could be solved if theatre personalities are involved at the stage of design, he adds.

Bangalore requires a number of smaller auditoriums with capacities of 200 to 300, recommends Nandini Rao, who along with Ranji David, runs an alternative theatre group called "Yours Truly." These smaller halls should be spread across Bangalore, so that a person in Yelahanka need not travel all the way to the city centre.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal space is the biggest problem for most upcoming theatre groups. The Government could provide such spaces within the auditorium, says Ms. Nandini.

The Suvarna Karnataka year could be the Government's best excuse to give a fillip to theatre in Bangalore. Not just Kannada theatre, says Mr. David.

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