Team Herald
MARGAO: In what is being hailed as a major victory for the tiatr community, Ravindra Bhavan Margao (RBM) has revoked its decision to stop tiatr shows from being staged at the Pai Tiatrist Hall following a meeting between a group of tiatr directors and the RBM Member Secretary (MS) and Manager. A joint decision was taken to continue performances at the hall with the one working air conditioner, with pedestal fans kept as backup.
There was a furor, not just amongst tiatrists, but also amongst the general public over the recent decision that was taken by RBM to shut down the hall due to the malfunctioning of the central air-conditioning, and cancel tiatr shows that were scheduled to take place this week.
However, following protests, a meeting was convened on Thursday at RBM and the group of directors placed their grievances before the MS and RBM Manager.
Tiatr director Roseferns, whose shows were canned, questioned why the tiatr directors, especially those who had made bookings well in advance, were not taken into confidence when the decision was made.
Sources added that Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude had already given an assurance that the hall would be closed at a later stage, but the management had taken a premature call, nonetheless.
However, the tiatr directors said the MS was very cooperative in listening to their demands.
Tiatr director Prince Jacob said after they found out that one of the three air conditioners is working, it was agreed that shows could still go to the stage with that one air conditioner, and that two shows had already taken place in such conditions. Tiatr director John D’Silva added that pedestal fans can be kept in the hall on standby in case there is any problem with the lone air conditioner.
“As long as the tiatr directors feel their audiences can manage in such conditions, we have no problem with the shows continuing. In the future, when the hall will be required to shut for repair work, we will take the tiatr directors into confidence so that their shows are not affected,” said RBM member secretary Agnelo Fernandes.
While Roseferns who had a show on Sunday 28th had to postpone it to next week, another tiatirist, director Pierson D’Costa will stage his show on Sunday instead. The booking counter has also been opened again. Some of the tiatr directors who had shows scheduled for this week had chosen other halls like Gomant Vidya Niketan to stage their shows.
Director Pascoal de Chinchinim pointed out that a public hall in Vasco too was closed for a few days for repairs, but two years have passed and it has not yet been opened for tiatrists. He pointed out that Kala Academy in Panjim is also shut and how the tiatr directors depend on RBM for their shows, which also generate revenue for RBM. Other tiatrists like Brian, Richard, Ulhas Tari, Constantino Crasto, Comedian Sally and Ambe were also present.
MS Agnelo Fernandes said that the work order to repair the central air conditioning was ready, and that the matter has been placed with the higher authorities for technical clearance. “The issue is that two of the three chiller plants of the AC system have malfunctioned, leaving just one working chiller plant, which could also get damaged due to overloading,” he explained.
A suggestion was also made about how to use the lone chiller plant sparingly and about restricting the number of shows in a day. Fernandes also clarified that the black box and the conference hall at RBM are working and it’s just the Pai Tiatrist hall that is facing the air conditioning issue.
