THEATRE

Of all forms of communication,acting or imitating somebody else with the help of a plethora of expressions,dialogues and gestures has been the most fascinating.Theatre provides one such platform.It is believed to have originated in primitive societies whose members used imitative dance-dramas to propitiate the supernatural powers believed to be crucial for their survival.The history of thetre in India is among the oldest and dates back to several centuries before the birth of Christ,when Sanskrit Dramas were performed in temples and royal courts.

Theatre is the best form of training for actors.It trains intellectual creative and physical faculities like speech,memory imagination,observation,objectivity,reflection and spontaneity.It nurtures the tools of the body,mind and voice and import skills that are useful in day-day life as well.Therefore professionals from various fields take acting lessons for personality development.Also today thatre is considered as a stepping stone for more lucrative careers in cinema and television.

The National School of Drama(NSD),India's premier institute in this field,admits 20-odd students annually for a three year comprehensive Postgraduate programme in dramatic arts with specialization either in acting or thatre techniques and design.In addition,there are other institutions like Banglore University,Rabindra Bharti University,Kolkata,Imago acting School,Noida,etc which offer different types of courses in theatre and acting.But the difference in the standard of training provided by NSD and others is simply too much.Therefore,there has been a growing demand for setting up of more NSDs on the lines of IITs and IIMs.

INSTITUTES OFFERING RELATED COURSES
1.The National School of Drama,Bahawalpur House,Bhagwandas Road,New Delhi,E-mail:nsd@nde.vsnl.net.in;drama_school@yahoo.com,Tel:3389402,3387916

2. Banglore University, Website: www.bangloreuniversity.net/faculties/ccb/art/dancedramamusic.htm ->Rabindra Bharati University,Kolkata Website: www.vbharat.ernet.in ->Imago Acting School,Brahma Studio,FC-11,Sector-16A,Film City,Noida. E-mail:imago1@satyam.net.in Website: www.imagoindia.com Tel:4515364

3.Ashok Kumar's Academy of Dramatic Arts,47 Union Park,Chembur, Mumbai:Tel:5562649

Unlike cinema,theatre has never been an Industry in India.There is not much financial security,no matter how renowned a theatre personality you are.Theatre has become an elitist hobby precisely fo this reason.The famous directors have other sources of income.Further,theatre and culture have always sustained themselves under the state patronage and the government of the day.Unfortunately that is not forthcoming to the expected levels today.

If you are passionate about theatre,you must find some alternative source of income to foot your bills.You should also search for other applications of the theatre like teaching or social work.There is drama in education these days-drama Therapies,working with disabled groups,drama in literacy programmes and in management training.Opportunities abound for those with imagination.Generally speaking,the NSD graduates never have difficulty in finding a job,though experience shows that most students opt for freelancing. Despite being alive in its folk forms in parts of West Bengal,Maharashtra,Gujarat,Karnataka and Orissa,theatre has not lived upto its potential in India.The country has other priorities.Considering that people are suffering due to lack of fulfillment of basic need,theatre is obiviously luxury. Theatre can neither be a full-time career nor a vocation.It has to be either a passion or an interest.One must indulge in it,only if one is willing to make sacrifices in life at least initially.