In a first, Vijayapura will host a weeklong State-level convention on Kannada professional theatre from August 24 at Rangamandir. The Karnataka Nataka Academy is organising the event.
Academy president L.B. Shaikh told presspersons here on Saturday that the representatives of the present 24 professional theatres would be participating in the event.
Mr. Shaikh who is popularly known as ‘Master’, said that the objective of the event was to preserve and protect theatre for the present and future generation.
“The ancient art form of theatre is gradually becoming less popular because of the onslaught of modern media. As youngsters are losing interest in theatre activities, the academy is organising a convention with the hope of rekindling interest in theatre among youngsters”, he added.
As many as 700 theatre artistes are expected to take part in the event that will be attended by Minister of State for Kannada and Culture and Women and Child Development Umashree on August 29. Mr. Shaikh said that during the event, 10 plays would be staged, and the best among them would be given prizes. A seminar on ‘Challenges faced on professional theatre’ would also be held. Mr. Shaikh added that the academy would apprise the Minister of the problems being faced by the theatre artistes when she attends the event.
Award money
To a query, he said that one of their demands is that the award money for theatre artistes should be increased from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 25,000.
The demand to increase pension has been agreed, and so artistes will now be getting Rs.1,500 a month instead of Rs.1,000.
On the same occasion, Mr. Shaikh said that they have decided to retain the only professional theatre in the city — Rani Chennamma Theatre — near the central bus stand of the city. He said that they would not allow any other commercial complex to come up in place of the theatre, and that they had brought the matter to the notice of Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep.
“He has assured us that the building would be retained and renovated so that plays can be staged there”, Mr. Shaikh said.
