Kochi to host global theatre workshop

KOCHI: Kochi has a new cultural icon in the offing. An international permanent theatre workshop is being established in the city to commemorate the 52nd year of Nataka Kalari movement, started by litterateurs M. Govindan, C.N. Sreekandan Nair, G. Shankara Pillai, K.S. Narayana Pillai, M.V. Devan, and K. Ayyappa Panicker in 1967, which paved the way for ushering a new theatre culture. It will also mark the golden jubilee of he theatre life of John T. Vekkan, one among the pioneers of amateur theatre movement and founder of Vaikkom Thirunal Natakavedi, a reflection of the Nataka Kalari movement.

 "The international theatre workshop will be a platform for artists from across the world to perform their talents," Mr Vekkan said. "Actors will be given training. Once they successfully complete the programme, they will be given opportunity to stage their performance." The work shop is expected to be functional in December.   

 There will be 20 actors to start with, he said. "They will preferably from 20 countries who will be given training on the acting methodology of Kerala theatre. After the training session, a multilingual play will be staged and each actor can take the team to their country for performance, if they want. This will be a unique concept."

It is going to be a dream come true for Vekkan, who has lived a fruitful theatre life as actor, director and trainer. He has introduced several new concepts like permanent theatre and theatre for children. As part of the permanent theatre, several dramas with insight on socially relevant topics were used to be staged every Saturdays. It produced some of the best plays and theatre personalities.

 "Theatre has always been an art form which communicated the issues and catastrophe of manhood. It always voiced against the tyranny and socio cultural circumstances," he added.

Vekkan's plays like Polio, Ningal Enthinanu Ente Kuttiye Perumazhayath Nirthiyirikunath, Chandamullaval and Shathru narrate conflicts in society.