The show must go on

Bombay’s theatre community needs funding and backing from corporates so they can regroup and rebuild after the massive hit they took in the pandemic

It was the final moments of an entertaining (and enriching) performance at Prithvi Theatre’s hallowed, intimate stage. Shakuntalabai Nagarkar, the respected and fabulous Sangeet Bari artiste had the audience in the ‘zone’ and also in splits as she regaled them with her closing lavani act on stage. The Sangeet Natak Akademi award winner was engaged in friendly banter with the likes of the venue’s director, Kunal Kapoor, who was seated a few rows in front of yours truly. It was performative, interactive art at its finest, on display in a seamless, freewheeling avatar that had all of us imagining that we were at a private gig staged in a mini amphitheatre. After a standing ovation, the performers of the troupe mingled with members of the audience, exchanging laughs and posing for selfies, despite an extremely strenuous performance that was a celebration of this spectacular traditional dance form. This was a show that was staged before the pandemic.

Such is the power of the performing arts. Last Sunday, like elsewhere across the globe, World Theatre Day was celebrated in our city as well, with a promising itinerary; a marked departure from the stifling scenario of the previous two years, where online versions of acts and plays compromised this craft at its very core. It was heartening to see shows and stages return to their living, breathing form. It must have felt so good for the theatre community. To draw from the energy of the audience. To share lines with fellow actors. To rehearse in person. To exhale, most importantly.

Back with a bang

After negotiating two years of pandemic-hit challenges, closures, losses, dwindling budgets, and zero support from the outside, it was fantastic to see, especially independent platforms and small theatre groups, the lesser-known custodians of the arts, roll out their productions, show off their acting chops and essentially, get back to work with the same intent and gusto.

While the events that took place on World Theatre Day were just a daylong affair to celebrate the arts, and a symbolic reminder that the curtains had truly gone up to get back theatre in its original avatar. From the popular Sangeet Bari performances to the out-and-out slapstick comedies, and the regional family dramas, every kind of production seems to be crawling back to secure a space on the radar of the theatre enthusiast. And, it can so easily read like a happily ever after kind of production. At least on paper. But I am quite sure that that is far from the real deal. The sacrifices, the blood, sweat, tears, long hours, rising budgets, ‘settling’ for production costs, the major jugaad that might be coming into play each time the germ of a stage production is being scripted in someone’s balcony, terrace or in a suburban cafe.

And this is where we need to look deeper, ask the right questions and plan better to make this large-hearted community feel secure for the entertainment and enrichment that they provide in our lives. Theatre in the city is just emerging from a dark, stressful period. Now is the time for all the stakeholders to put their heads together and rebuild. But to lay a stronger foundation, consistent funding is the need of the hour. More investments, more festivals, solid sponsors, awareness among the youth…all of these are the immediate need of the hour to give, especially the small but key players well-deserved backing.

Struggling to stay afloat

It was pretty much one of the major reasons why theatre groups were crippled and struggled to stay afloat when the pandemic struck. I recall reporting, albeit with a heavy heart, in this newspaper, about closures, of great dreams, having to call it quits due to zero inflow of revenue, of scripts being chucked away, and of projects being dumped. Many dug into FDs, savings, or resorted to taking loans to keep their theatre groups afloat. It was a question of staying alive for their passion, their livelihood.

We dearly hope that another pandemic should never be inflicted on humanity, and cause the damage it did. The theatre community was one of the worst affected, as each wave returned to wreak havoc on the smaller theatre groups, especially. If one were to make a wish, it would be for the corporate world to look at backing this vital cog in the performing arts space in a big way, to give them the space and the freedom to continue bringing joy into our lives, one curtain call after another. After all, the show must go on.

mid-day’s Features Editor Fiona Fernandez relishes the city’s sights, sounds, smells and stones...wherever the ink and the inclination takes her. She tweets @bombayana
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