PANJIM: Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude on Monday announced a scheme to encourage the festive theatre of Goa and for local village groups to continue the theatre movement.
Addressing the media, Gaude said, “Utsavi Rangabhumi scheme is designed to revive and preserve the festive theatre of Goan villages and encourage village groups to restart and to continue the Houshi Ranghabhumi theatre movement by providing required support for the revival of sangeet natak (musical plays) and prose plays and encourage local female and child artists to participate.”
Gaude also said the scheme focuses on encouraging new playwrights and directors, set designers and stage technicians to bring discipline in traditional festive theatre.
“This scheme will be applicable to traditional village theatre groups performing plays for 25 years. The group also has to give an undertaking that they would present the play without prompting of the script and that the group would get a good drama director from their vicinity,” Gaude said.
He added that financial assistance would also be given to the groups. Rs 20,000 would be given to a group which does not have musical instruments, Rs 30,000 to a group which has music. The selection committee may also recommend an award of Rs 3000 to script writers.
“The theatre group has to perform all the roles by engaging artistes from their own village. Outside professional artist will not be allowed to act under this scheme. The group should also give special exposure to child artistes,” Gaude added.
