The second All Goa Inter-Collegiate/HSS Tiatr Competition, organized by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG), had six institutions participating from across Goa. But, there was only one higher secondary school which found its entry into the competition.
The participating institutions included St Xavier’s College, Mapusa; Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Nuvem; Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar; Fr Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar; Kala Academy Goa’s College of Theatre Arts, Panjim; and DCT’s S S Dempo College, Cujira.
Of the six institutions, there was one college which did not have male students as it was a women’s college. But, they were granted special permission to rope in the teaching and non-teaching staff to bridge in the gap.
BEHIND THE PERFORMANCES
Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar, was the only institution which participated on behalf of the HSSs across Goa. And, their entry in the competition was for the first time.
Speaking about the participation and performance, the principal of Fr Agnel Higher Secondary School, Pilar, Fr Andrew Silveira, said that Effifanio Mendes from Goa Velha approached seeking students from the college and the positive nod was given. “The students took great pains in preparing and giving a fine performance on stage,” he said.
“Such competitions give a good platform to students to showcase their theatrical skills on stage, be it singing or acting,” Fr Silveira revealed. “It would have been nice if more HSSs participated in the competition as it would lead to a better competition.”
The director of the tiatr, Osloch Inam Zai?, Effifanio Mendes said that it was quite a tedious and tough task tracing students from the institution as they would have to be trained later in singing and acting. “But the end result was satisfying,” he said, “as the support of the management also made a big difference.”
One of the participants of tiatr, Profession, staged by Carmel College of Arts, Science and Commerce, Nuvem, Swena Vaz, who took part in singing and had a minor role in the play, said that the college students did manage to put up a good show as support continued from the teaching and non-teaching staff. She said that everyone worked as a team and that the team spirit in the entire troupe enabled all the participants to put up a good show.
Jeffrey Viegas, who shouldered the responsibility of training the college students to sing, said that all were very enthusiastic and took a lot of trouble to give their best. “As it is a women’s college,” he continued, “the hindrance was there, initially. But, as 25 percent of relaxation was given, it enabled us to rope in males from the post-graduation (PG) section.”
Fr Milton Rodrigues, who scripted the tiatr, From London With Love, and staged it on behalf of Fr Agnel College of Arts and Commerce, Pilar, said that the story revolved around youth and the company of friends that one makes, and all the students gave their best while performing. “Except for two, all the other artistes participated for the first time on stage. But, the initiative taken by TAG, needs to be appreciated and it definitely is a good step to get children and college students closer to tiatr and Goan culture.
