Karnataka - Bangalore   

‘Theatre not an event, but a way of life’

Bangalore: “Theatre is not just an event, it is a way of life. We are all actors. Being a citizen is not living in society, it is changing it.”

Reading out the Kannada translation of these words of Brazilian theatre person and activist Augusto Boal marked the inauguration of the World Theatre Day celebrations organised by Karnataka Nataka Academy here on Friday.

The well-known theatre person, who created the concept of ‘Theatre of the Oppressed’, in his special message, talked of the global economic recession, global poverty and inhuman acts of violence, and said that theatre should make people ‘sensitive to the spectacles of daily life’.

Theatre person Arundhati Nag, who was felicitated on the occasion, said that theatre alone had the power to “utter the truth without any fear or obligation” because it was not bound by the commercial compulsions of television.

It had the power to connect with people directly and give a “cathartic experience”. Kannada theatre should make a special effort to draw the young, who are enamoured by television, to its fold, she said.

Going down memory lane, Ms. Nag said that she had come to Bangalore 30 years ago to join the late Shankar Nag and bring together the troupe Sanket.

The success of her dream project, Ranga Shankara, had the backing of the entire theatre community, she said, and the unique theatre space had seen over 1,800 performances since its inauguration.

Plays will be staged at Ravindra Kalakshetra every day till March 30 as part of the World Theatre Day celebrations at 6.30 p.m. every day.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Jamma Malai: HC allows John’s petition
Notice issued to State
Naxal suspect seeks anticipatory bail
‘NDA is consolidating itself’
JD(S) releases first list of 16 poll candidates
Silk cocoon prices reach all-time high
Contact classes
Recruitment of soldiers for Army
Switch off apathy, switch on sensitivity
Takes charge
‘Proper care for Alzheimer’s patients lacking in India’
DGP asks his staff not to visit houses of RTI applicants
They jump and dance to the tunes of Kannada songs
Survey on Scheduled Castes to be conducted
Bidari holds meet with DCPs
AKKA splits; new Kannada association launched in U.S.
School in Dubai
Banking hours to be extended
‘Theatre not an event, but a way of life’
Waiting to see who will blink first
Bangalore Today

Copyright © 2009, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu