With winter just weeks away, tiatr directors in Goa gear up with their new releases in the month of October, and this season stretches till the first week of February 2025. It is the longest season for the tiatr fraternity, and their shows are booked well in advance for various village feasts and festive occasions.
In the 80s and 90s, the two main seasons for the tiatr fraternity included releases in October and Easter. But, over a period of time, they realised that the monsoon, too, was a good season to stage tiatrs in June-July till September.
Those monsoon releases would be staged strictly in city auditoriums, and those handful of tiatr directors would come along with a big cast and stage settings.
Availability of stage artistes (singers and actors) during the wet season made it easy for directors to rope them in, and there was a good response from the audience, as well, as far as viewership was concerned.
The October releases will probably continue during the Christmas season, and continue in the New Year, too. Depending on the directors and the cast, including the comedians involved, tiatr fans will make a mad rush for the shows!
And, in all probability, if the audience response is good, then that particular director could end up being the winner for that particular season. Thereafter, the director will likely take his new production for even more successful shows in the cities and villages.
COMING UP
This year, 15 new productions from different tiatr directors are to be staged during this winter. The new releases lined up include Roseferns’ 105th production Sonvsar Tumcho, Amchem Kitem? and Prince Jacob’s 75th production, Sant Padr Pio.
Other tiatrs come from comedian Sally’s mighty pen, Tanchem Chintat; comedian Ambe’s production, Dollar Dinar vo Pound; Pascoal de Chicalim’s tiatr, Atam Amchem Kitem Zatelem?
Jose/Evon’s tiatr, Zonvar, will have senior tiatrists, Betty Naz from Mumbai and comedienne Querobin, who has returned from the Gulf after 30 years. Dominic Carvalho’s 27th production, Amkam Ballgun Dovor and comedian John D’Silva’s tiatr, Mogall, will also be staged during this ongoing season.
Ulhas Tari’s 6th production Konn Nhoi Konnacho, and the tiatr Gold Medal, written by comedian Agostinho and directed by comedian Joyel, will also be staged across Goa during this winter season.
Other tiatrs include Peter/Roshan’s Ho Sonvsar Atamchea Bhurgeancho and Menino de Bandar’s tiatr, Nimmanea Vellar.
With the exposition of the sacred relics of St Francis Xavier around the corner, Michael Gracias will stage his tiatr, Goemcho Saib, with the sole aim of enlightening the audience about this saint’s life and miracles.
Milagres Carneiro’s tiatr, Vatt, Sot Ani Jivit, will carry a sliding stage and it’s after 20 years that a sliding stage is making a comeback on the tiatr stage. Jose de Benaulim will present his tiatr, Goll, during this winter season.
Among the 15-odd productions lined up for this winter season, there are only two productions which will focus on the life of saints, namely Sant Padr Pio and Goemcho Saib.
After an exhaustive study on the lives of saints, Prince Jacob staged the tiatrs, Sant Fransis Xavier, Sant Anton and Padr Juze Vaz in the past.