<p>Months after it successfully dealt with a financial crisis, nothing much has changed for the 44-year-old iconic Akshara Theatre as it struggles to instal a generator and an upgraded light and sound system.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra had promised all possible support from the government as the theatre was on the verge of going dark due to lack of funds to pay the electricity bill earlier this year.<br /><br />“We were successful in paying the electricity bills. But we still have a lot to do for which we do not have adequate funds. We need a generator as the present one requires three persons to pull a rope and start it. Also we need an upgraded light and sound system.<br /><br />“We are also constructing a temporary roof at the top of our amphitheatre to protect it from huge construction work carried out by the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital,” said Anusuya Vaidya, one of the directors of the theatre.<br /><br />“We have received moral support from the government in a couple of meetings where they had promised us that they would hold government functions at the theatre. Also they had invited us for functions to generate money. But we have not received any financial help from them,” claimed Vaidya. <br /><br />The authorities said they have put forth a proposal to the central government to convert the theatre into a museum to preserve its heritage and legacy, for which a recommendation from the Delhi government is required.<br /><br />“We had given this proposal two years back to the previous government. But nothing much happened in this regard. The recommendation is under process and finally we hope that this is executed by the present government,” Vaidya said.<br /><br />The theatre had started a crowd-funding campaign to pay the bills following which funds poured in by artists, performers and its students.<br /><br />“We received Rs 2 lakh from crowd funding and rest of the amount was given by Papa CJ. We requested the Delhi government to set institutional rates for electricity which is in between the commercial and the domestic rates,” Vaidya said, adding no decision has been taken on that front.<br /><br />The theatre has also sent a proposal seeking funds from the government to conduct a ‘Reforming Art Festival’ focusing on Africa, the idea of which has not proceeded.<br /><br />Registered as a non-profit cultural society in 1980 under the name ‘The Akshara National Classical Theatre of India’, the theatre’s endeavour is to present theatre, music and dance in its various spaces on a nightly basis, for a ticket-paying audience, so that Indian artists can access their public and earn their living by so doing, and the public, on the other hand can find quality professional live entertainment in a aesthetic ambience throughout the year.</p>
<p>Months after it successfully dealt with a financial crisis, nothing much has changed for the 44-year-old iconic Akshara Theatre as it struggles to instal a generator and an upgraded light and sound system.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra had promised all possible support from the government as the theatre was on the verge of going dark due to lack of funds to pay the electricity bill earlier this year.<br /><br />“We were successful in paying the electricity bills. But we still have a lot to do for which we do not have adequate funds. We need a generator as the present one requires three persons to pull a rope and start it. Also we need an upgraded light and sound system.<br /><br />“We are also constructing a temporary roof at the top of our amphitheatre to protect it from huge construction work carried out by the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital,” said Anusuya Vaidya, one of the directors of the theatre.<br /><br />“We have received moral support from the government in a couple of meetings where they had promised us that they would hold government functions at the theatre. Also they had invited us for functions to generate money. But we have not received any financial help from them,” claimed Vaidya. <br /><br />The authorities said they have put forth a proposal to the central government to convert the theatre into a museum to preserve its heritage and legacy, for which a recommendation from the Delhi government is required.<br /><br />“We had given this proposal two years back to the previous government. But nothing much happened in this regard. The recommendation is under process and finally we hope that this is executed by the present government,” Vaidya said.<br /><br />The theatre had started a crowd-funding campaign to pay the bills following which funds poured in by artists, performers and its students.<br /><br />“We received Rs 2 lakh from crowd funding and rest of the amount was given by Papa CJ. We requested the Delhi government to set institutional rates for electricity which is in between the commercial and the domestic rates,” Vaidya said, adding no decision has been taken on that front.<br /><br />The theatre has also sent a proposal seeking funds from the government to conduct a ‘Reforming Art Festival’ focusing on Africa, the idea of which has not proceeded.<br /><br />Registered as a non-profit cultural society in 1980 under the name ‘The Akshara National Classical Theatre of India’, the theatre’s endeavour is to present theatre, music and dance in its various spaces on a nightly basis, for a ticket-paying audience, so that Indian artists can access their public and earn their living by so doing, and the public, on the other hand can find quality professional live entertainment in a aesthetic ambience throughout the year.</p>
