Theatre group Bisargo came up with two back-to-back productions recently. The first was the part of Rasoon-e-dhun play called Samikaran and the second was the play, Bag Chal, in memory of Charan Kavi Mukunda Das. Member and actor of the group, Dwaipayan, said, “We performed both the plays in intimate space and they were made kept in mind the diminishing trend of Bengal’s theatre productions. Even 20 years back, there used to be a better connect and audience for such plays. We wanted to revive the culture.”Dwaipayan is hopeful that the scenario might turn around for the better with small efforts from theatre groups like theirs. When asked how does he look at intimate space theatre in the present context, he said, “Intimate space theatre is older than proscenium theatre. But the present scenario always doesn’t speak well of the trend. There are some theatre groups, around 50 years old, which have been advocating and following the intimate space theatre now. I will say it’s a bad thing because they are killing their own philosophies or compromising with the politics of theatre to reach out to their audience. The good side is that many who don’t have the big-ticket auditorium can also showcase their play. This has been possible also because of the pandemic making many realise the practical side of life in a hard way. Besides, intimate space theatre saves a group from the politics of ticket sale and PR muscle. Though here grants are important, it’s less of a hassle to stage a play in the intimate space.”
Source: TimesofIndia
