Finally, there's good news for tiatr-lovers who were, in a way, deprived of watching good tiatrs for a month after the closure of the Pai Tiatrist Hall, at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao.
After renovation and repairs, the auditorium will finally be thrown open to the public from May 22, this year.
The first tiatr to be performed at the renovated hall will be Parveachem Rogot Dhovem Anik Kanvlleachem Rogot Kallem, on May 25, 2024, by PeteRoshan productions.
Chairman of Ravindra Bhavan, Rajendra Talak, spoke to Gomantak Times Digital about the renovation and repairs which have been carried out, which will give the tiatrists and the audience a memorable viewing experience.
“We have replaced the flooring of the auditorium stage, fixed the 15-year-old sound system, the green rooms have been re-done, the flooring outside the wooden stage and a sound system inside the green room for artistes to get the cues for their set,” Talak explained.
Facilities like a good changing room, or a roof in the parking lot to transport the goods from the vehicles to the halls, are a good initiative. He has taken us into confidence.
Roseferns, Tiatrist
Roseferns, a seasoned tiatrist, who was getting his show bookings sorted out at the Ravindra Bhavan office told GT Digital that it was important to take the tiatrists’ opinion into consideration before undertaking the renovation works.
“I have seen the work done here, in the Pai Tiatrist Hall, and it is done very beautifully. This will help us in the long run. Facilities like a good changing room, and a roof in the parking lot to transport the goods from the vehicles to the halls, are a good initiative. He (Rajendra Talak) has taken us into confidence,” Roseferns said.
Taking into consideration persons with disabilities, the auditorium is now equipped with six seats, out of 1069, seats for those with special needs.
To run checks on the works done, two tiatrs were held on a trial basis – one by Pascoal de Chicalim and the other by Menino de Bandar. They were given a remuneration of Rs 30,000. A dance performance was also held so as to check the flooring of the auditorium.
Tiatrist, Price Jacob, a veteran in the tiatr fraternity, also endorsed the renovations, but expressed caution about the sound system.
“We are very excited to get our shows staged here after the changes. The tiatrs were held as a trial, but the sound systems were hired, since the auditorium sound was under repair. We will have to wait and see when our shows happen,” says Jacob.
These apprehensions come hot on the heels of the recent hue and cry over the sub-standard theatre equipment, such as the sound system, being used at Kala Academy, Panjim.
The chairman of Kala Academy, Govind Gaude, however, responded by saying that the technicians were yet to familiarise themselves with the latest technology.
In the meantime, the tiatr fraternity is looking forward to the re-opening of the Pai Tiatrist Hall on May 22, 2024.