Way back in the 70s and 80s, the age-old theatrical art, tiatr, did move overseas and entertained the Goan community spread across the globe. But it was restricted only to the Gulf countries where the Goan diaspora was seen in a large number. During that period, tiatrs were staged in countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and UAE and the response was overwhelming. They were well accepted by the audience as that was the only live entertainment available then.
But today, with the Goan community
migrating to the UK, seeking greener pastures, tiatrs from Goa are performed in
cities like Swindon, Southall, Wembley and Croydon. There is a large population
of Goans settled there and organising and staging tiatrs have become much
easier, thus helping tiatr lovers to flock to the auditorium and enjoy
three-hours of entertainment.
Over a period of time, tiatrs from Goa
have even moved to the USA, helping the Goan community settled there to find
live Goan entertainment. But entertainment via tiatrs might have not clicked so
much there as much as it is doing in the UK. DySP Sammy Tavares, who has
stepped on the tiatr stage and released five productions till date, has not
only restricted his shows to the tiatr lovers in Goa, but has also moved
overseas to cater to the wider Goan community. He was the first director from
Goa to take his tiatr to the US, Canada in 2017 and Paris in 2012.
The tiatrs staged by Tavares in the US include ‘Tim Thikam
Sanddlelim’ in 2014, ‘Police Officer’ in 2017 and ‘Bhurgim Kiteak Somzonant?’
in 2019 whereas in the UK, he has been successful in staging all five of his
productions to packed houses. When Tavares proceeded with his production ‘Ghor
ek Ghorabo’ and his troupe to the UK this year, five shows were scheduled, but
due to packed houses in Southall, another two shows were staged there.
Previously, he had only staged five shows of his earlier four productions.
Ask about the overwhelming response from the Goan community in
UK, Tavares says that tiatr is the only entertainment Goans get abroad and the
shows are staged only in summer season. “Places like Swindon, Southall and
Wembley have become a Goan hub and it is easier to stage and win large
audiences there,” shares Tavares.
“In comparison to the UK, the Goan community is scattered in a
big country like the US and in order to enjoy live entertainment like tiatrs,
they have to travel a long distance of about 7-8 hours. But the die-hard lovers
of tiatr don’t mind travelling long distances to get a glimpse of the Goan
entertainment via songs and comedy,” he adds. Tavares says that this year too,
his troupe would have made a trip to the US, but due to a backlog of visas and
Covid restrictions, the trip did not materialise. But he was content with the
overwhelming response from the Goan community in the UK.
The tiatrs scheduled in UK in the following months include
comedian Ambe’s tiatr ‘Kudd’ddo, Mono, Bhero’ this month, Peter/Roshan’s tiatr
‘Atam Tem Mhojem’ and comedian Sally’s tiatr ‘Antonette’ in October 2022 and
comedian late Selvy’s tiatr ‘8 Dis’ and Valerian Vaz’s Konkani film ‘Padrik
Nanv Nam’ in November 2022.
Geldo Verdes, who is organising comedian Ambe’s tiatr Kudd’ddo,
Mono, Bhero’ this month at four places in the UK, namely Croydon, Swindon,
Wembley and Southall, informs that the response from the Goan community is
overwhelming. “Two shows were already booked in Southall but as both the
earlier shows have gone houseful, an additional show has been booked at the
same venue to avoid disappointment,” he reveals.
“Since 2019 onwards, on account of Covid restrictions, tiatr
lovers had no entertainment whatsoever. But now as things have cooled down,
people are stepping out and wish to enjoy tiatrs and other entertainment.”
Verdes says.
Another tiatr organiser in UK, Carlos Fernandes, who has his
company ‘Goan Art and Culture UK Ltd’ registered for the past five years and
will be staging Peter/Roshan’s tiatr ‘Atam Tem Mhojem’ in the month of October
at six venues (Wembley, Southall, Reading, Hayes, Croydon and Swindon) and ten
shows. He says that the response from the Goan community is overwhelming. He
attributes the prompt response to migration of Goans from Kuwait and Dubai to
the UK.
Dominic Bocarro from the UK, will be organising and staging
comedian Sally’s tiatr ‘Antonette’ at three venues, Swindon, Southall and
Wembley with a total of five shows. He says the tickets haven’t arrived yet
from Goa, but the bookings have started. Bocarro mentions that there are tiatrs
being staged in the UK but the Goan community is not very responsive and would
always prefer to watch hit tiatrs from Goa.
“Goans here are missing that unique Goan culture and when they
watch a tiatr, they feel relaxed and a feeling of being in Goa is generated
automatically. As there is no other entertainment here, they would like to stay
linked to the Goan culture and arts by watching tiatrs,” says Fernandes.
After almost three years, Boneypark Events, Dubai, will also be
staging comedian Sally’s tiatr ‘Antonette’ at Al Nasr Leisureland, Nashwan Hall
on October 8. As tiatr is paving its way to the Gulf after many years, Boney
Coelho, expresses hope of receiving good response from the Goan community there
to the one and only show to be staged.
“We have already decided about the chief guest and guest of
honour for the show and we are hopeful that the Goan community will extend
their support. If this show clicks with good response then we could get more
and good tiatrs from Goa to the Gulf in the near future,” says Coelho.
Filipe Dias from Maddel, Margao, has served for almost 30 years
in Dubai. He says that annually there would be two to three tiatrs staged in
Dubai and the response was always good from the audience. “But for the past
three years, the decline can be clearly seen and the organisers there are
hesitant to take any further risks,” he explains.
Dias
said that in February 2020, the last tiatr staged in Dubai, was of Lawry
Travasso and thereafter, there have been no tiatrs coming from the Goan tiatr
directors. He foresees the decline due to migration of Goans to the UK and he
notes that the strength of Goan community is now only in Kuwait, as compared to
Oman, Qatar, Dubai and Bahrain.