In a blow to tiatrists, main auditorium at Margao’s Ravindra Bhavan shut due to faulty AC system

Team Herald

MARGAO: There’s bad news for Margao’s tiatr lovers- the management of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, has decided to close the main auditorium, Pai Tiatrist Hall, due to the breakdown of the air conditioning plant’s chiller facility.  With the back-up air conditioner also damaged, there will be no tiatr shows at the institution until the faulty system is repaired.  

A group of tiatrists have called the move a planned strategy to break the backbone of the tiatr culture in the State, and to ‘finish’ tiatr and tiatrists, as it comes on the heels of Panjim’s Kala Academy and Vasco’s Ravindra Bhavan also being closed for renovations or repairs.

Speaking to media persons, Agnelo Fernandes, Member Secretary of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, said that they are forced to stop all activities in the main auditorium due to the sudden breakdown of the air conditioning plant chiller, and it will take a few days to repair it. 

“We have noticed sudden damage to the air conditioning plant in the main auditorium and have stopped all the events at the Pai Tiatrist Hall till the chiller is replaced,” said Fernnades. 

He claimed that the audience would get frustrated if they attend tiatrs without a functional AC, and did not want the management of Ravindra Bhavan to take a hit.  

“Orders have been already issued to the concerned agency to replace the main AC. The standby air conditioner had also been damaged several months ago,” he added. Fernandes said that his office had already informed clients who had booked the main auditorium for events. 

“It is definitely a shocker. It looks like a cruel joke is being played on tiatrists and their audiences. This majestic auditorium was the only remaining place for tiatrists to stage their plays to the tiatr-hungry people of South Goa,” said tiatr director Pascoal de Chicalim. 

He said they were shutting the auditorium when shows of major tiatr production houses were at their peak. 

“It is indeed suspicious; Kala academy was closed unceremoniously for renovation and repairs and is still not available for staging of tiatrs. Ravindra Bhavan, Vasco, was also closed due to faulty AC system and till today, it has not been repaired, “said Pascoal.