In the past, Mangalorean artistes have made a debut on the tiatr stage mostly for renditions as many among them carry melodious voices. And the Goan audiences have always appreciated their presence and rich contribution towards the Konkani stage. But this time around, there’s a Mangalorean actor, who has already created a mark on the silver screen, and now making a debut on the tiatr stage as an actor and singer as well. Tiatr lovers have been supportive in accepting her as an artiste and appreciating her theatrical skills on stage in comedian Brian’s monsoon tiatr, ‘Mhoji Khori Maim’.
As a singer, Ester Noronha made her first debut on the tiatr stage in Mariano Fernandes’ tiatr ‘Goy, Goykar, Goykarponn’ in 2017, wherein she only rendered three songs to the audience’s hearts’ content. Musically inclined, rendition on stage wasn’t a tedious task to her.
But lately, taking up dual responsibility on the tiatr stage, Esther has proved to herself and the audience as well that she no longer lags behind in her theatrical skills. She has given her best and all the artistes on stage and the audience offstage have accepted her as a tiatrist.
Sharing her unique experience on the tiatr stage as an actor, Esther says, “It’s simply amazing being on stage.” She had been in the musical scene for long, “but never had been a part of the tiatr as an actor,” she says.
In between those musical evenings, Esther said that she watched tiatrs in the past in bits, but never had complete knowledge of what ‘tiatr’ is all about. “Now, stepping on the tiatr stage for rendition and acts simultaneously, it is an enriching experience and the audience support has only boosted my confidence,” she adds.
In January 2023, when Ester Noronha was working on a Telugu film at Visakhapatnam, she received a call from comedian Brian. “As it was a UK number, reluctance followed,” she said, “but later Brian called and shared about tiatrs making a comeback on stage. “Initially, the thought was of an offer only for rendition,” she says, “but he continued explaining about his new venture as writer, director of a tiatr and a good character scripted for me. And he said that he would go ahead only if the offer was accepted.”
“The thought of acting on stage never crossed my mind and doing films was a routine task. But acting is acting, no matter where, and this opportunity would only help make a new version of myself,” states this film actor-cum-tiatrist.
“It was giving it a try and it clicked, the director gave me the confidence to go ahead and it was also a sign for him as well to go forward with his new venture,” says Ester, who came down to Goa just a couple of days before the show and she was totally blank. “Everyone was well rehearsed with the script as everyone has done tiatrs for ages in the past. The thought of gelling well with others became my first priority and everyone clapped after my entry in the first scene with words ‘borem kortam mugo’ on their lips. Every rehearsal, thereafter, made me more confident and people on and offstage boosted my self-confidence,” she adds.
Watching Ester’s photo on the tiatr poster, many started texting her on FaceBook and Whatsapp inquiring if she will be acting on stage. “When my first dialogue followed on stage, there was pin-drop silence in the hall and then the applause followed, providing the assurance of acceptance,”
she mentions.
Ester admits that her parents, Valerian and Janet Noronha, have always been supportive to her in her musical and film journey. While her father enjoys a retired life in Karnataka, engaged in farm house, her mother is into production of Konkani and bilingual films.
When making a comparison between stage and screen, Esther says, “The tiatr stage is an extremely different world. But many think that being in tiatrs is lesser than being in films. But they are two separate worlds and each has a different mechanism. In tiatrs, there’s a direct interaction between the artistes on stage and audience offstage, whereas films unite people globally. Both contribute towards Fine Arts and society in its own way,” she opines.
With Mangalorean accent and hopping on the tiatr stage, “language was no hindrance,” admits Esther, “instead, mixed accent has only helped build a bridge between the two communities.” “A stone helps build a wall and a bridge as well,” she says, “and so we become a united community. Total surrender and audience acceptance matters the most to me. Tiatr lovers have received in the right spirit whatever and whoever I am today,” she concludes.