St Francis Xavier is revered by all and when the community comes together as one it shows an even beautiful representation. The same will be translated on the tiatr stage when ‘Goycho Saib’ a tiatr presented by Kala Niketan, Majorda Goa on the life and work of St Francis Xavier. Written and directed by Michael Jude Gracias, the tiatr will be releasing on October 25 at 7.30 pm at Se Cathedral, Old Goa.
A labour of ten years of research, Michael has been thorough with the writing as there is no scope for fantasy as it is a historic play. He began researching on the Saint as he felt there was no sufficient material available. “I was collecting material to write a book especially keeping the exposition in mind. But since I’m a tiatrist, I thought of writing a tiatr before releasing the book. We have also started working on a documentary on the life of St Francis Xavier when the tiatr rehearsals were going on,” says Michael, a noted award winning tiatrist, writer and director.
The tiatr begins from when St Ignatius informs St Francis Xavier to go to India and then in 1683 after the death of St Francis Xavier, when Viceroy, Count of Alvor, Dom Francisco de Tavora, placed his sceptre and his letters patent in the hands of St Francis Xavier, having opened the casket to save Goa from an attack. The tiatr also covers his travels over the sea from the fishery coast of Travancore in Kerala to Mannar in Sri Lanka, his stay in Japan and his death at Sanchian Island, Japan. The tiatr will be grand as Michael has gone all set to recreate the royal palce and the costumes of the courtiers of that era. “It was a challenge to source the right costumes and recreate it. The priests then used to wear black cassocks and I had to add 12 cassocks for the play,” says Michael.
The cast of the tiatr includes Rupesh Jogle as St Francis Xavier and Fr Ubaldo Fernandes as St Ignatius of Loyola, Fr Eusico Pereira, Fr Cruzvert Colaco, Dr Risia Passanha, Comedian Hortencio, Siddhi Naik, Ansha Bandekar, Mayur Dhond, George Gonsalves and Joel Ribeiro. The singers include Renecia Rodrigues, a finalist of the Aikat Mozo Tallo competition that will be held in the UK in November and Mando singers Valanca Periera and Caroal Fernandes.
Rupesh Jogle is playing the lead role of St Francis Xavier and is feeling privileged to be offered the role. He has been a part of the theatre world in Goa for the past 32 years and had made his debut with Michael Gracias’ tiatr. He was part of his troupe for 15 years and now recently made his comeback with Michael’s tiatr ‘Goenkarponn’ last year. He has been part of many award winning tiatrs as well as acted in a Konkani film, ‘7 Days’ directed by Joywin Fernandes. Interestingly, for the last exposition a decade back, Rupesh had played the role of St Francis Xavier in Late Fr Nevel Gracias’‘Dhorm Porgottnnar Za’.
“I am truly honoured to play the role of St Francis Xavier. This is a well-researched tiatr by Michael Gracias and I had reference of the tiatr I acted in ten years back. Fr Nevel was known for his Lenten season tiatrs but that was his 40th tiatr written especially for staging during the period of the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier 2014. It was a different tiatr on the saint and was not of this magnitutde. Then, I had read books on St Francis Xavier bt for this tiatr, I am following Michael’s research,” says Rupesh, who is originally from Loutolim but currently living in Goa Velha. He will be also singing Kantos in the tiatr which are interspersed with the ongoing scene.
Fr Ubaldo Fernandes, parish priest of Holy Cross Church, Cavelossim plays the role of St Ignatius of Loyola. “It gives me great pleasure to play the role and adapt some of his spiritual qualities. It is important to learn about the life of St Francis Xavier and to preach the goodness that comes from spreading the good news. I will be also singing a song, ‘Jivo Kommuniyo’ on the miracle of the Living Host that took place in Portugal,” says Fr Ubaldo.
The tiatr will have solos, duos, duets, trios, quartets and group songs. The quartet is also an interactive song which is the traditional style of how the song is supposed to be sung for tiatrs. “The opening song is composed on the miracle of St Francis Xavier in Japan and is written in the traditional style and will be brought to life on stage with UV scenes,” says Michael.
As the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier will be held from November 21 to January 5, 2025 which provides a short duration for the tiatr to be performed. However, Michael is optimistic with the shows. “The tiatr will be staged on October 27 at Aldona, followed by October 28 at Candolim, November 2 at Canacona, November 7 at Cortalim and November 10 at Curtorim. We will be also staging the tiatr outside Goa in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Flora Castellinho, a professor from St Aloysius College, Mangalaore will also be travelling to Goa with her students to attend the tiatr,” informs Michael.