SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024
Canada got first taste of tiatr in 1976. The performance was satisfactory considering it was held in Canada with a few Goans around with a nominal theatrical experience.
Richard Fernandes, who wrote the first tiatr in Canada, also organised and produced the second Tiatr in Toronto, ‘Ghorchem Kestanv’ by Miguel Rod in 1977, which was even more successful.
Later in 1978, a group called The Goan Theatrical group (GTG) was formed, most of their members being expats from East Africa consisting of Margaret De Souza, her father Frank De Souza, her sister Delphine Francis, Richard Fernandes, Braz D’Cruz, Frank Fernandes, Zulema De Souza and others.
This group had great enthusiasm and organisational power. Margaret D’Souza co-ordinated this group and wrote most of their Tiatrs, although in English which were then translated into Konkani. GTG had a series of Tiatros every year and they even performed in Montreal and London U K. This Group lasted until 1997.
Later in 1989, another group was created and it was called The Goan Konkani Troupe (GKT), mostly comprising members directly from Goa, Bombay (Mumbai) and the Gulf. It was started by Richard Fernandes and later headed by a new up-and-coming actor-turned-director Jr Menezes.
This group became very popular overnight as most of the members were well conversant with Konkani as they migrated directly from Goa with some village Church Tiatr background and they never looked back.
After GKT folded, Jr Menezes directed more plays on his own almost every year, even though rivalries began to show up and more directors cropped up.
Later another actor-turned Director Marshal Fernandes started on his own and directed some Tiatrs, to be followed by yet another all-rounder actor Joe Vaz, who also directed a couple Tiatrs.
This went on till the year 2019, when Covid -19 stopped the Tiatr Production during the pandemic.
A tiatr is a contribution from various components. The main one is the playwright, followed by performance, music and stage setting. In Toronto, some directors have ignored the tiatr writers altogether and they have not compensated them for their intellectual property rights.
As you will see from the tiatr table (see box), the names of writers are missing for most of the tiatrs performed in Toronto, Canada. This could mean that the script has either been copied or the name of the tiatr writer has deliberately been excluded and not credited and possibly the title has been changed.
Four Konkani Cassettes/CD Albums were produced in Toronto including ‘Maim’ by Marshal Fernandes, to be followed by ‘Adeus’ by Jr Menezes and ‘Classic Goa’ by Silviano Barbosa and later another one CD Album by Joe Vaz.
While all performers in Canada have kept their acting standard close to the Goa standard as of now, most audience favourites like Jr Menezes, late Lina Remedios, lately Samson Santimano and Serah Barbosa have matched their talent with Goa-based professional comedians as they regaled the Toronto audience with bouts of laughter.
Performers of Konkani Tiatr in Toronto have performed in various local multi-cultural events including the Caravan in the city of Toronto, Mississauga, Montreal, New Jersey USA and London UK. Their events were highlighted on TV, Channel 47 in Toronto.
Konkani Shows like ‘Ambott-Tik’ and ‘Dotor Hansoupache’ by Marshal Fernandes and ‘Nach Goemkara’ by Jr Menezes have regaled the Toronto audience.
There has been no shortage of Goan writers in Toronto. Author Ben Antao wrote a few Goan novels, Lino Leitao also wrote a couple novels, Braz Menezes wrote a few novels, Mel D’Souza, Ladis Da Silva and Silviano Barbosa, who wrote his first Canadian Goan novel ‘The Sixth Night’.
