A four-day theatre festival, organized on the occasion of World Theatre Day, ended here on Friday. Three theatre groups from the state and one from Kolkata participated in the festival and enthralled thousands of viewers.
The festival was organized by Samparka, a leading theatre organization of the state in collaboration with Eastern Zonal Cultural Center (EZCC), Sangeet Natak Academy, Bhubaneswar, the department of culture, government of Odisha and the Rourkela Steel Plant. The event was kicked off with a road show in the town on World Theatre Day on March 27. Hundreds of artists and school and college students participated in it.
Samparka staged a play titled “Pathara” on the inaugural day night, written and directed by eminent theater personality Bhaskar Mohapatra. On the second day, Pancamaveda, Bhubaneswar, staged “Kyabin”, written by eminent poet and politician Prasana Patsani and directed by Haren Sahoo.
On the third evening, Sree Cultural Association of Sambalpur staged “Sir”, written by Ashis Kumar Sunar and directed by Satya Ranjan Behera. On the final day, Sabdha Mugdha Natya Kendra, Kolkata, staged a play titled “Shabjyotsna”, written and directed by Rakesh Gosh.
A seminar on the present status of Odia theatre was organized on the opening day, where different experts shared their views. Braja Mohan Mishra, an eminent director and stage artist from Balangir, presided over it.
The speakers were of the view that although several organizations of the state had been working all out to improve the standard of Odia theatre, the response has not been great.
Rourkela Steel Plant CEO G S Prasad attended the closing ceremony of the festival. He thanked Samparka, the Sangeet Katak Academy, the state government and the EZCC for organizing the event.
