Theatre in a state of flux: Simha

Speaking at the inauguration of Nirantara theatre festival, Simha said theatre audiences too are changing with the time.

“Audience had breathed life into theatre few decades ago, and theatre movement reached its peak. But of late, the strength of the audience has dwindled,” he said. 

“In 70s-80s, Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bangalore used to be packed with audience and some would even wait for repeat shows to catch a good play.

Today, things have changed. People do not want to emerge from their homes in the evenings, to watch a drama,” he said. With people preferring to stay in the comforts of their house, there would be barely about 100-200 audiences in any theatre even if a play if performed over the weekend, he added.

People involved in theatre are making all attempts to woo people to occupy the seats of audience and give theatre a fresh lease of life. “However, it is heartening to see so many people turn up for a theatre festival,” he added.

Referring to increase in urban spaces, Simha said spaces need to be set aside to carry out theatre activities, to be able to evolve a healthy society. “Though I have written to the government in this regard, hardly any progress has been made,” he regretted.

Indicating that a library and theatre existing in the same space would do good for each other, Simha said such a place of knowledge and performance has already been constructed in Hampi Nagar, in Vijayanagar, Bangalore.

“More replicas of this model can help the young minds shape themselves better,” he said.
Prasad Kundur of Nirantara Foundation was present on the occasion. Srinivasa Bhat rendered Ranga Geete.

Veeragaase artists entertained the audience with their performance ahead of the programme.