Before The Curtain Falls.
Introduction: Theatre offers opportunities a plenty. But you would be better off if you treat it as a 'parallel' and not a primary career, says Puja Goyal
(Source: Vijay Times, VT Education: PG 2)
Copyright © 2005 Puja Goyal
Theatre over the years has grown by the number of people who want to be involved. The career is taken more seriously as a pastime, vocation, personality development etc, but theatre in its real form is staged by only a discreet number of individuals and artists.
How does one develope love for theatre? Ratan Thakore Grant, who runs Misfit, a theatre group, remembers being a shy kid in school, who would mimic people in private… one day, he was asked to play schoolteacher in a play and he used his famous schoolteacher Papa Yates as a character cue. This in turn gave him confidence to pursue the line further. Ratan says, "We are all actors in real life, only some have the ability to project what they learn in real life." While for some it is a conscious effort… for others, it is the inner drive that helps them sustain themselves in this department.
Is theatre financially viable? The question will always get a chuckle from theatre people. "There is no money in theatre." says Thakore. "Lack of sponsors hamper growth. The other problems faced by theatre is, it has no repeat audience, and is expensive." Okay so no money comes in, but surely, the artists get paid… and he's quick to add, "don't expect to be paid anything; there is no monetary gain, especially not in Bangalore". Most theatre groups in Bangalore do not pay anything or will cover your minimum costs associated with the act.
Thakore advises that a person desirable to invest time in theatre should not consider it as a primary but a parallel career. Misfit itself holds regular workshops on acting for the stage and screen, personality enhancement and training programmes for corporates and professional colleges, using theatre as a base.
The alternative way of looking at it would be that the next generations of artists are media and marketing savvy, a quality that the previous generation overlooked. They have a long way before they can establish themselves and be seriously called artists.
Education VS Experience:
There are courses by institutes like National School of Drama, Bangalore University etc… one can also go abroad and train in the subject, but it is expensive and time consuming… If you cannot afford so much time and money, the best alternative is to join a workshop, which theatre groups hold regularly and advertise in various newspapers. Some groups that hold workshops regularly are Misfits, ACTor, ART, Mahesh Dattani and Black Coffee etc.
Essence of an Artist:
Theatre tests your idealism and integrity. It requires consistency. Theatre lovers fear the pseudo image that theatre is taking up. There are people who are into the profession not because they love the art, but because they love to be seen. Thakore feels few people are exploring new ideas in theatre. He says, "Every movement has a purpose and if you as a director cannot determine why you are moving from one position or emotion to another, then who can?" Theatre needs to be spontaneous to look effortless.
Discipline is important, to train as an actor. Youngsters want to have it all before they start out. "learn to crawl before you run… and don’t let ego come in the way of learning. Do everything from carrying tea pots to lighting and costumes, that is the only real way to go about. Never bring your personal emotions to stage" You can intern in theatre, from stage lighting and set-up, acting, directing, production, make-up and costume, music, scriptwriting etc.
Final Notes:
Years down the line, some fade away into oblivion, taking up nine to five jobs and are never heard of, while some battle it out. Your sense of accomplishment will be a strong sense of idealism that withstood the tests of uncertainty and time, and a wonderful way of celebrating life. Do you have it in you to take the road less traveled and stick by it?
Ratan Thakore Grant
(Source: Vijay Times, VT Education: PG 2)
Copyright © 2005 Puja Goyal
Theatre over the years has grown by the number of people who want to be involved. The career is taken more seriously as a pastime, vocation, personality development etc, but theatre in its real form is staged by only a discreet number of individuals and artists.
How does one develope love for theatre? Ratan Thakore Grant, who runs Misfit, a theatre group, remembers being a shy kid in school, who would mimic people in private… one day, he was asked to play schoolteacher in a play and he used his famous schoolteacher Papa Yates as a character cue. This in turn gave him confidence to pursue the line further. Ratan says, "We are all actors in real life, only some have the ability to project what they learn in real life." While for some it is a conscious effort… for others, it is the inner drive that helps them sustain themselves in this department.
Is theatre financially viable? The question will always get a chuckle from theatre people. "There is no money in theatre." says Thakore. "Lack of sponsors hamper growth. The other problems faced by theatre is, it has no repeat audience, and is expensive." Okay so no money comes in, but surely, the artists get paid… and he's quick to add, "don't expect to be paid anything; there is no monetary gain, especially not in Bangalore". Most theatre groups in Bangalore do not pay anything or will cover your minimum costs associated with the act.
Thakore advises that a person desirable to invest time in theatre should not consider it as a primary but a parallel career. Misfit itself holds regular workshops on acting for the stage and screen, personality enhancement and training programmes for corporates and professional colleges, using theatre as a base.
The alternative way of looking at it would be that the next generations of artists are media and marketing savvy, a quality that the previous generation overlooked. They have a long way before they can establish themselves and be seriously called artists.
Education VS Experience:
There are courses by institutes like National School of Drama, Bangalore University etc… one can also go abroad and train in the subject, but it is expensive and time consuming… If you cannot afford so much time and money, the best alternative is to join a workshop, which theatre groups hold regularly and advertise in various newspapers. Some groups that hold workshops regularly are Misfits, ACTor, ART, Mahesh Dattani and Black Coffee etc.
Essence of an Artist:
Theatre tests your idealism and integrity. It requires consistency. Theatre lovers fear the pseudo image that theatre is taking up. There are people who are into the profession not because they love the art, but because they love to be seen. Thakore feels few people are exploring new ideas in theatre. He says, "Every movement has a purpose and if you as a director cannot determine why you are moving from one position or emotion to another, then who can?" Theatre needs to be spontaneous to look effortless.
Discipline is important, to train as an actor. Youngsters want to have it all before they start out. "learn to crawl before you run… and don’t let ego come in the way of learning. Do everything from carrying tea pots to lighting and costumes, that is the only real way to go about. Never bring your personal emotions to stage" You can intern in theatre, from stage lighting and set-up, acting, directing, production, make-up and costume, music, scriptwriting etc.
Final Notes:
Years down the line, some fade away into oblivion, taking up nine to five jobs and are never heard of, while some battle it out. Your sense of accomplishment will be a strong sense of idealism that withstood the tests of uncertainty and time, and a wonderful way of celebrating life. Do you have it in you to take the road less traveled and stick by it?
Ratan Thakore Grant
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