BY TC News Desk
Agartala: Mar 13. The theatre groups of Agartala city have unanimously decided to seek 50 percent concession for staging their productions in state government owned auditoriums in order to protect the dying art from the hands of extinction. The decision was taken during the annual general meeting of “Sanmilita Natya Prayash”—a joint platform of 16 theatre groups active in Agartala city.
The new executive committee of the body was also elected during the event. Speaking to this reporter, lead artist of Tripura Puppet Theater, state’s only modern theatre group has said, “We have come a full circle of a year with the decision of staging plays on the every second Saturday at Rabindra Satabarshiki Bhavan. The initiative undertaken by our body has helped us reach a wider audience and the state government has also granted a one third concession on hall bookings.
But, to be fair this is not enough, if the hall fare is reduced to 50 percent, the whole fraternity would have benefited largely and ticket prices could also be further restructured to make the performing art more accessible for people”. Apart from that, he said, the body has also adopted a resolution to persistently stage their productions routinely on Second Saturday of the month from April. “March we will be unable to resume the plays because of world theatre day observation.
Shilpa Tirtha has been organizing the central event of world theatre day and our organization will assist them in their endeavor”, he added. The meeting held at Haripada Das Performance Space also took a decision to rope in more sponsors for their form art. “Information and Cultural Affairs Department of the state has extended financial support to our organization. But, if we can mobilize more financial support, the quality of our production can be enhanced dramatically in the days to come. A resolution has been adopted in this regard as well”, Das pointed out. Two new theatre groups have also expressed their desire to join Sanmilita Natya Prayash, the matter has been brought to the notice of the newly elected executive committee of the body.
