The curtains came down on the Kala Academy’s 9th Tiatr ‘B’ Group Competition on January 1 with the presentation of eight tiatrs. And after a gap of almost two weeks, the 49th Tiatr ‘A’ Group Competition will begin in earnest from February 20 to March 6. This time, it will be a clash of the titans as well established and experienced tiatr directors will be presenting their respective tiatr productions on stage, vying for the first three cash prizes.
There are 12 art, social and cultural troupes from north and south Goa participating in the competition. With the exception of only two groups from South Goa, the remaining ten are all from the North.
The groups, tiatrs and their respective directors participating in the competition include Kala Mogi, Candolim ‘I Love Goa’ by Tomazinho Cardozo, J J Production, Santa Cruz ‘Guneanv Konnacho?’ by Antonet de Sousa, Dristhi Entertainments, Curchorem, ‘Map Bhoron Votlem’ by William Fernandes, Machi Mogi, Santa Cruz ‘Name, Fame and Game’ by Menino Mario Araujo, Dramatic Troupe of Ribandar, ‘Daiz’ by Jose Luis Diogo Fernandes, ‘Machi Mogi Morjim, Cultural Sanskrutic Saunstha, Morjim-Pernem, ‘Bara Brestar Tera Sukrar’ by John Alexandro Fernandes, Sao Bartolomeu Sports Club and Cultural Association, Chorao ‘Tum Asunk Zai Aslo’ by Fr Milagres Dias, Kala Niketan, Majorda ‘Goykarponn’ by Michael Gracias, Matias Creative Group, Calangute, ‘Family’ by Matias Mascarenhas, Goa.Com Socio and Cultural Association, Candolim, ‘Daddy’s Home’ by Fr Milton Rodrigues, Taleigao Dramatic Troupe, Taleigao, ‘Kobzo’ by Pedro Vaz and St Domnic Dramatic Troupe, Merces ‘Zababdari’ by Joaquim Dias.
During the presentation of tiatrs at the ‘B’ Group competition, the tiatr directors faced hardships concerning the lights and sound systems. After the first tiatr was staged for the competition and noting down the areas lacking in the standard of perfection in the auditorium, the following tiatr directors brought in extra sound and lights by shelling out extra money from their pockets.
Despite the inspection carried out and the assurance given by the concerned authorities at Kala Academy thereafter, the drawbacks have not been rectified. Things are the same as before and whether things will fall in place before the ‘A’ Group competition begins is a big question mark.
Those who attended a programme at Kala Academy recently informed that the sound system was bad and nothing appeared to have changed or improved. Instead, it was the same as before and had moved from bad to worse.
Under such circumstances, will the participating troupes be able to give their best on stage as far as presentation is concerned? Or will the tiatr directors have to shell out extra from their pockets for additional lights and sound systems?
When the basic facilities cannot be provided by the government institution to the participating groups, why conduct the competition in the first place? Instead, change of venue would be the only best option for the organisers, participants and the audience.
It’s high time that the authorities take cognizance of the existing loopholes and rectify the wrongs before everyone is put into further inconvenience.
