Workshops – In recent years, NSD under its Extension Programme organized a series of theatre workshops in the North Eastern States. The workshops proceeded on the basis of a 3-step programme – the first was to arouse interest amongst all participants about the intricacies of the theatre experience – performance and transference; the second was to impart training in the area and the third was to help and guide them to prepare productions on the basis of the received training. The first Poorvottar Natya Samaroh was organized in Guwahati in 2007 and the second at Gangtok, Sikkim in 2008.
Regional Resource Centres – With a view to take the theatre movement to the grass root level and to make it more accessible to theatre workers, it was decided to decentralize the Extension Programme and set up Regional Resource Centres in various zones of the country. The first such centre, covering the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Pondicherry, was set up in Bangalore in 1994. The Centre has been very active and has organized quite a large number of workshops in collaboration with State agencies and local theatre groups.
Training – Training in the School is unique in several ways. It is based on a thorough, comprehensive and carefully-planned syllabus that covers every aspect of theatre from theory to practice, the results of which are put to test before a wide audience. The syllabus takes into account the methods of great theatre personalities who have shaped contemporary theatre in all its forms and expressions. Training includes broad-based training in classical Indian and western dramatic traditions, Indian traditional and folk theatre, modern theatre trends in India and abroad, introduction of theatre trends of the world, and specialized training in Indian theatre traditions.
By: Geetu Katyal