Stage of success

Mona & SD Sharma

Anupam Kher, Shekhar Sen, Shabana Azmi and Satish Kaushik are just the few theatre stalwarts who regaled city folks with their flawless acts in 2016. While ticketed shows got takers in the city, where established theatre groups staged their performances; the local groups too made the most of the thriving culture.

Tagore Theatre Society, the three Chandigarh akademies — Sangeet Natak, Sahitya and Lalit Kala — along with Punjab Arts Council, contributed in their own ways towards nurturing the cultural soul of tricity. One sure high in the theatre scene was Ajoka Theatre, which brought their celebrated shows from across the border. The tension between the two countries was a record high in July, but that did not stop Madeeha Gauhar from reaffirming that art is a uniting factor.

Right act

Suchetak Rang Manch, Theatre for Theatre group and Alankar Theatre Group had huge footfall for their festivals. Dramatic readings wowed the audiences through Writers’ Bloc Showcase – a specially curated season of original plays by Indian Playwrights, a group comprising Rajit Kapur, Shernaz Patel and Sadiya Siddique.

While there have been pretty much different shades of plays, sadly, the city didn’t host our own Neelam Man Singh Choudhary, whose Naked Voices met a rousing response in Delhi. We hope the coming year brings in more!

Loads to cherish

The classical art-lovers had their fair share of performances to cherish. Folk flavour was added by Haryana Cultural Affairs’s Saang Fest at Tagore. The Sangeet Natak Akademi organised as many as 80 programmes of merit in theatre, classical folk music and dance, through different festivals. Artists like Pandit Sanjeev Abahyankar, Pt Rajan Sajan Misha, Kalpini Komkali, Malini Awasthy, Pt Vishwa Moahn Bhatt, Salil Bhatt, Pt Brij Naryan and others, made their presence felt. The Parcheen Kala Kendra and Brahspati Sangeet Society also contributed through festivals.

Lack of direction

Lots of programmes are happening and being supported, but most of it is adhocism. As a city we are not creating a narrative. Like Serendipity in Goa, where people are involved in discussions, debates and choose what issues they can address, what themes make a part of festivals; we totally lack it here. —Neelam Man Singh Choudhary, well-known theatre-person

Well-read audience

Chandigarh is an ideal city for theatre. We have plenty of places — theatre, auditoriums, open-air stages — and educated audiences. What is a play sans its viewers? The scene here is certainly lively. Though I wish there were more experimental plays. Groups like Kewal Dhaliwal’s bring up social issues. I am glad we had a play like Everything She Wants: Amrita & Boris. 

Pushpinder Syal, Professor, Panjab University

Spread the word

Lots of lovely plays are being staged in the city, both by local groups and other ones from elsewhere. What I rue is that most are limited to tight circles. Despite being from the fraternity, at times even I get to hear it post the show. How difficult could it be to spread the word in a small city like ours? Art needs to be the prerogative of all, not a select few. —Gick Grewal, theatre artiste

mona@tribunemail.com