Media Release
Pics: Prakash Noronha
Doha, Jun 21: In its endeavour to serve the community in Qatar and to provide an avenue to improve one's talents, Mangalore Cricket Club (MCC), Qatar successfully conducted a workshop on 'Konkani Modern Drama Theatre ' on Friday, June 19, 2009 at the Prestige Restaurant Hall.
Lancy Pinto Nayak, an energetic gentleman and a distinguished member of elite Konkani artists and dramatists, who has won numerous awards and prizes in Konkani plays and his literary work and who also has conducted similar seminars in other Gulf countries, was specially flown in from Kuwait to conduct a most practical workshop on the nuts and bolts of organizing a modern Konkani drama.
Evening began with a welcome note from the General Secretary Oliver Pereira. President Alwyn D'Souza introduced Lancy Pinto Nayak and lauded his selfless and yeoman’s service to our mother tongue and Konkani dramatic arts and literature.
The genuine approach and humble nature of Lancy Pinto Nayak struck a cord with the participants. His passion for popularizing the heritage of our ancestors’ and their love for Konkani drama, a worthy cause, was well received. It was the unique energy enhancing exercises and games implemented in the workshop made the participants boost their confidence to involve themselves whole heartedly. A sense of belonging to our culture and willingness to do more for the cause was building up every moment, as the participants watched him in action.
A workshop with a difference made the participants wait on their toes for the next move. An insight of an actor gave a world of experience to the participants. An actor's emotions, control, confidence and fitting oneself in to a character was narrated through the examples of various great actors of Konkani theatre. Contributions of legendary directors, script writers and others involved in Konkani plays were recounted. It was a life time experience to listen to the reactions and emotions involved in a play, straight from none other than our own legendry actor, director, writer and a lover of Konkani, Eddie Sequer, who was present during the workshop as the Guest of Honour.
The workshop without a dull moment was the key for the successful participation of each and every person present. Participants were put through exercises and workouts, both physical and mental. Group exercises were held to demonstrate the teamwork involved in a successful presentation of a play. In an event of presenting a drama, individual responsibilities from director to an actor and team work details were given very precisely. Participants were given exercises in voice modulation, tone and tempo control, eye contact and breathing to bring out one’s optimum output. Delivery of a phrase in five different vocal variations made the participants feel the toughness and the softness of an actor depending on the character he/she plays. A total description of parts of a stage, the lighting effects, stage possession, movements and the mannerisms involved to present oneself according to the character played was distinctly briefed. Variations from laughter to emotion, actions to words, gestures to body language and sense of presence, the core ingredients of a true actor were thoroughly presented.
At the end of the workshop that lasted seven hours, a questionnaire based on the topics presented was given to the participants to answer. Prizes were given to the winners of different categories . In the feedback session, participants gave their individual opinions and commented that it was one of the best workshop ever attended and preferred extended duration of the workshop and asked for more similar workshops to master the art.
The workshop was free of charge to all members of the club. Light refreshments and a sumptuous dinner was provided.
On behalf of MCC, President Alwyn D'Souza honored Lancy Pinto Nayak with a Memento and Cultural Secretary Reena Castelino presented a token of appreciation. Joint Secretary Riana Pinto offered vote of thanks.
It was the efforts of Cultural Secretary Reena Castelino to arrange the workshop in coordination with Lancy Pinto Nayak that paid rich benefits to the participants.