BHUBANESWAR: The Centre is contemplating setting up six schools of drama in the next five years following the New Delhi-based National School of Drama (NSD) model in different parts of the country to cater to the regional aspirations of theatre enthusiasts and aspiring artistes.

NSD Director Devendra Raj Ankur, who is on a visit to the State, said this here on Monday while addressing the inaugural ceremony of a State-level drama festival.

Extension programme

As the NSD was able to admit only 20 students per year from across the country, there was a huge demand for making its academic programme available for the aspiring artistes, Prof. Devendra Raj observed and hoped that that the new schools would be a major achievement in that direction.

The schools would be developed as centres of excellence, he pointed out.

The NSD had been running an extension programme for the benefit of theatre enthusiasts across regions and languages by conducting theatre workshops of various kinds, Prof. Devendra Raj informed.

Subjects like acting, movement, light, make-up, theatre history and literature would be taught at these workshops, he added.

The new schools would have a comprehensive three-year diploma course in dramatic arts with specialisation available in direction, acting and stagecraft as being offered by the premiere institute of the nation, it was learnt.

The diploma in dramatic arts was recognised by the government for recruitment to services under the Central Government where specialisation in the field was required, he explained. The diploma in dramatics from NSD was equivalent to any post-graduate degree and makes one eligible for Ph.D. programmes, he added.

Bharat Rang fete

Responding to remarks that Orissa was being ignored by the NSD for inclusion in the Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the national drama festival being hosted by the institution, Prof. Raj, an Akademi awardee theatre personality, denied there was such bias against any State or language.

"The play must meet certain standards and there is a committee that screens the proposals for selection," he explained, and pointed out that Oriya plays had been selected for presentation on many occasions earlier.

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