Going digital was a challenge for artists performing in front of an audience.
Bangalore:
Bangalore’s Rang Shankar Theater turns 17 today. The organization is marking the occasion with a festival of plays.
Named after the late actor Shankar Nag, the theater is nurtured by his wife, actor Arundhati Nag. She serves as the managing trustee and artistic advisor for the theatre.
“17 years on, I can’t believe it. It’s like we had a 45-day festival yesterday and people from all over the country were coming to perform for the opening of this venue. Sometimes it feels like yesterday – sometimes it seems as if the Swiss Alps and the Himalayas put together that no one has climbed in these 17 years!” Arundhati Nag told NDTV.
The pandemic, and the restrictions brought by it, were hard on the performing arts, say, theatre.
“This year has certainly been a lot more challenging,” she said.
“Pandemic times – no one ever thought theater would come to a standstill… no home, half home, going digital – I really felt like a monkey trying to find new ways to just survive. trying to innovate,” he added. .
Going digital was a challenge for artists performing in front of an audience.
“We were never prepared for (online). And we also come from the belief that the real thing is the real thing. To adapt to the reality that the pandemic has brought with it…. in touching each other Not being able to. Not being able to look into each other’s eyes – was very hard for all of us. But we tried to help the community, keep the enthusiasm of it – I think as an institution which Our job gets done. Last year we went completely digital because it was really harsh this time around. This year we have a hybrid festival, because until about a month ago we didn’t know which side it was going,” said Arundhati Nag.
The festival is called ‘Staying Alive’ – to acknowledge the hardships that a theater had to face to survive in the times of Covid. It will be available in both live and online formats.
Arundhati said, “We have a physical celebration.” “We have supported 4 local groups from Bangalore to create new pieces. In response to the tough times we all went through, they are not all sad drama. The theme is to survive. Within that theme, we did three. A package is kept Kannada Nataks, a Hindi drama performed by local mandalas of Bangalore. This also ensures that we have 4 new plays going on in Bangalore. And we have a play with a team from Jaipur, But it also has actors from Bombay, a director from Pune – who dared to meet 10 days a month during this pandemic and rehearse a play.”
“We have a digital festival curated by Amitesh Grover. People can visit the Rang Shankara website, register – then they can access that. Some are paid and some may be free “
There will also be a half-hour performance in different parts of the Vishisht Rang Shankar Bhavan. This is also a back-up plan in case the government closes the auditorium. Tea
Although 100 percent occupancy is allowed, those attending the festival must show proof of at least one vaccination.
Temperature checks and masks are also mandatory.
.