Media Release
Dubai, Apr 13: Daiji Dubai, the forum of Konkani writers in the UAE is all set celebrate its 23rd anniversary with usual grandeur at Emirates Theatre, Jumeirah Dubai on Sunday, April 30 at 4:30 pm. As part of the entertainment, two dramas are lined up to entertain the UAE’s Konkani drama lovers.
An immensely gifted with ocean depth talents ‘Team Astitva’ will be travelling from Mangaluru to Dubai under the leadership of Christopher Ninasaam to pay the twin dramas ‘Salgi’ coincidently a silver jubilee show and ‘Jugari’, a new drama which will be a second show after its trial run show in Mangaluru. Tickets are already on sale and drama lovers are requested to purchase the tickets well in advance to avoid last minute rush.
A big bonanza is awaiting the drama lovers of UAE. Daiji Dubai along with Daiji Ranga Mandir has organised a short workshop on theatre. Christopher Ninasam will take the lead in this theatre workshop. This theatre workshop is scheduled on April 28 at 6 pm in Winny’s Restaurant Karama. The theatre workshop will be a good opportunity for drama enthusiastic drama artistes and others.
About ASTITVA (R) MANGALURU
Objectives
• To understand the issues faced by society and to make the students and the general public aware of these issues.
• To improve communication and management skills among theatre students.
• To inculcate moral and social values.
• To provide a platform to perform and involve in theatre and theatre-related activities.
• To enrich the theatre knowledge of the audience and give them a chance to review the plays.
• To impart confidence among youngsters to face the crowd.
• To open the boundaries of traditional style and known type of plays.
• To show, the most nominated movies to the public and discuss its aspects.
• To train interested students and others in the theatre.
• To give everyone an opportunity and bring theatre close to people.
• To organize workshops and one-day camps for interested candidates.
The Context
As the theatre activities in Mangaluru were declining, and the existing theatre activities were giving importance only for the traditional theatre, the only hope of reviving the theatre was catching the young minds to instil interest in them for theatre. With this objective in mind, ‘Team Astitva’ initiated the theatre classes by forming a group of interested candidates and trained them in theatre skills and theatre-related activities like film review, script reading, storytelling, enacting poetry, learning technical skills such as sounds engineering, lights operating, designing the properties, stage backdrops, which are most useful in glamorizing the event.
Theatre Journey
The Theatre Journey is a platform for awareness and understanding of social issues. It also focuses on the inculcation of values. This provides theatre-related learning to the artistes and opportunity and experience to perform in various institutions and constant exposure to theatre. Under Theatre Journey, the team has performed several full-length plays, street plays on various issues. The Theatre Journey consists of actors and a technical team who go around and perform. Performance is followed by a constructive review.
Theatre Hub
Theatre Hub is a platform to perform, involve in theatre-related activities to enrich the theatre Knowledge of the audience and give them a chance to review a play and most nominated movies. Along with the artistes, the Theatre Hub provides a chance for other theatre troupes to perform in Mangaluru. Ten professional theatre groups have come together to organize programmes, and have staged 52 performances till date. Theatre Hub has encouraged the students to act and direct short films.
Theatre Expo
Theatre Expo is a platform to train students and others in the theatre. It organizes workshops and day-long camps. The expertise learnt enables outgoing students to earn from the theatre. Recently, a 100-day workshop for twenty selected applicants took place, which consisted of training from eminent resource personalities graduated from the National School of Drama, Rangayana, and Neenasam. Under this programme, short plays have been directed in various schools and colleges for cultural functions. ‘Team Astitva’ teammates teach theatre subject in BEd Colleges.
Evidence of Success
a. The overall development of artistes in the field of theatre
b. The team has performed in 23 national level festivals and 12 multilingual theatre festivals and 2 international theatre festival held in Dubai and Rajahmundry, BRM festival, organized by National School Drama, New Delhi
c. Theatre Journey has completed more than 500 shows
d. Theatre Hub has organized 52 shows
e. The team has performed all over the India
f. Theatre Journey had an International performance in Dubai
g. The plays and movies have changed the ideology of people about the traditional and known style of theatre
h. The institution has successfully hosted 9 multilingual theatre festivals and 4 state level theatre festivals
i. Along with all this, the team has hosted several book release programmes
j. Astitva has awarded seven personalities recognizing their work 'off the stage' in Tulu, Kannada, and Konkani theatre
k. ‘Team Astitva’ has been nominating and hosting CGK state level award for the past two years
l. Astitva sponsors the education of one student per year who is excellent in art field
Since the theatre workshop will be limited to 50 numbers of attendees, chance will be given on first come first serve basis. Hence, interested drama lovers are requested to register their names on priority with the members whose name and numbers are given below.
Alwyn Pinto – 050 458 3930
Melwyn Kalakul – 055 530 6057
Nanu Marol Thottam – 050 840 2207