Bhubaneswar: From now onwards theatre lovers will have to pay something (for ticket) to enjoy plays.
A decision in this regard was taken by Odisha Natya Sangha at a meeting recently held at Atal Bhawan, Unit-IV, Bhubaneswar.
Earlier, a theatre organisation would get a 50 percent concession on the rent of Rabindra Mandap and Bhanjakala Mandap to stage an Odia play. But, this favour has been stopped since the introduction of online booking. So, the Sangha also decided to meet and request the Culture Minister and the concerned Secretary and director to consider giving the concession as earlier for the sake of Odia play.
The Sangha also decided to urge the government to set up an auditorium in each of the 30 districts so that plays can regularly be staged.
The Sangh will also organise theatre workshop in all districts to encourage youths to take up theatre as their profession.
The Sangha also informed it that the government-sponsered Natyadhara, a monthly series of plays which has been discontinued due to the outbreak of pandemic will resume from May.
Under this series, plays will be staged at Bhanjakala Mandap from May 1 to 6 and from June 1 to 3, and at Rabindra Mandap on May 31 and June 19.
The Sangha also decided to observe it’s foundation day in September. On this occasion, a play will be staged, Sangha’s souvenir ‘Sutradhar’ released and young talents will be felicitated with ‘Kalicharan Pattanayak Samman’.
While the meeting was chaired by the Sangha’s president Haren Sahu, it was attended by all the office bearers.
notably, ticketed theatre is not something that is going to be experienced for the first time in the state. In past, several theatre groups conducted ticketed shows. But they were always staged to a poor audience.
