The birth anniversary is a reason to celebrate, but Goa’s tiatrists have little to be pleased about at this particular time, as the anniversary comes against the backdrop of a not too satisfactory time for them. Not only has the pandemic and the restrictions on public activities hit the tiatrists badly over the past year, now, even after the restrictions have been lifted, the creators of tiatrs have no venue on which to stage their productions.
Strange as it may sound, the auditoriums that are otherwise available to them are currently off limits to the tiatr fraternity. The Kala Academy in Panjim is under renovation, the Pai Tiatrist hall in Margao is booked for government functions till January 16, Gomant Vidya Niketan in the same town is not financially viable for tiatr shows, Ravindra Bhavan in Vasco is closed as its central AC has stopped working. The tiatrists have already complained that the non-availability of auditoriums, especially the one at Margao, has created problems for the directors. They have sought the intervention of the authorities in the matter, but so far there has been no response. The authorities should have responded, as if not for the love of tiatr, for the auditorium, the tiatr shows have been one of their main revenue earners, as there are up to four performances on a single day held on weekends. Why then the silence from the authorities?
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For the tiatr troupes holding no shows, especially during the festive and holiday season, is a financial loss and there are many who depend entirely on tiatrs for their living. During the pandemic when there were restrictions on public gatherings and auditoriums were closed, it was a different matter as tiatrists had not planned shows during that period. In effect they had neither invested in production nor rehearsed for the shows. Besides, the pandemic was something that was beyond human control but the non-availability of halls to stage the tiatrs is an issue that can easily be solved by the government and can be done quickly. Now, that the directors have already invested in tiatrs but are unable to hold them in urban areas due to the non availability of auditoriums, it is a bigger loss.
Tiatrists have complained of step-motherly treatment from the government and complained that the curtains are being brought down on all the halls where Konkani tiatrs are staged. Recently, there was a question asked by tiatr director Irineu Gonsalves of whether the tiatrist fraternity is the last priority of the State. When the repeated laments of the tiatrists are not heeded, the question is entirely justified. Availability of auditoriums requires a long term solution. A simple one would be to earmark some days for tiatrs at all auditoriums and if these slots are not booked by a certain date to release the hall to others. That way the tiatrists are assured of at least some days when they can hold their shows.
There is another reason to protect tiatrs. This is a form of theater that has to be looked as a heritage item as it is a unique to Goa, and it cannot be allowed to die. It is not just buildings and monuments that make up heritage, but art forms also play a role and unless they are protected future generations will not be able to appreciate them. The government has a role to play here, in keeping the tiatrs alive.
