For the past ten years, Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) has been organising Children’s Tiatr Competition, a unique competition and thus inculcating love for tiatr in the minds and hearts of children. It has not only helped children to unearth their singing and acting skills on stage, but has also groomed them into future tiatrists.
This concept and scheme came about when Tomazinho Cardozo became the first president of TAG in 2009. He introduced this scheme during his tenure and it received an overwhelming response from various cultural organizations and clubs, including educational institutions.
“There was active participation of children from various schools since inception of the scheme and those willing to be part of the competition took much interest in training the participants, be it with songs, comedy and play,” informs Tomazinho Cardozo. “The aim of this annual competition was to train the children and get them acquainted with theatrical art. It also helped them to understand what ‘tiatr’ is all about and develops interest and love for it through participation,” he adds.
Apart from this scheme chalked out for children, during his tenure, Tomazinho also introduced around 32 schemes in TAG, which included publishing tiatr scripts, Popular Tiatr Festival, awards for commercial and amateur artistes, support and promotion of tiatrs in villages, ‘Meet the Artiste’, ‘Somplolea Tiatristancho Ugddas’ and others, which helped in the growth of tiatr. Some of those schemes are still in existence and scheduled regularly by the academy.
For the past two years, on account of the pandemic, TAG could not hold the Children’s Tiatr Competition. But this year, the academy will be organising its 11th Children’s Tiatr Competition from February 8 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao at 3.30 pm. There are eight groups participating in the competition and each will be given minimum one and a half hour and maximum two and a half hours duration for the presentation.
The participating groups and tiatrs include Drishti Entertainments Curchorem ‘Rakhnno Boddvo’ (February 8), Gloria Ferrao ‘Dennem Dilem Devan’ (February 9), Fulte Machi Mogi, Raia ‘Zhadda-Tengxer’ (February 10), Fr Milagres Dias ‘Mhojem Sopon’ (February 11), Sao Lorens Kala Kendr, Agxe ‘Amchi Osmitay’ (February 12), Our Lady of Rosary High School ‘Poilem Paul’ (February 13), Doel Dias ‘Xalla’ (February 14), Sharon Mazarello ‘Adim Tem Atam Hem’ (February 15).
Sharing past experience, one of the participants Marcos Gonsalves says that it is a good initiative by TAG to hold Children’s Tiatr Competition annually. “But quite often the competition schedule clashes with the examination schedule and consequently many children are deprived of active participation in the competition. Instead of conducting the competition during the academic year, summer vacation would be apt as all the children would be enjoying their holidays then,” he shares.
William Fernandes from Sanvordem, who has staged seven children tiatrs in the past, opines that Diwali vacation in October-November is apt to stage Children’s Tiatr Competition. He said that during that vacation rehearsals become convenient and children are easily available.
William says that publicity of this event is very poor on the part of the organisers. “As it is a free show every day during the competition,” he continues, “TAG should take the initiative of distributing passes to neighbouring schools. It will help promote tiatr not only among the participants, but also among other children, who will be watching and enjoying the show. If school children are brought as spectators for the show, then those participating will feel encouraged and the viewers will feel motivated to participate in the near future.”
