Government has taken the initiative of constructing auditoriums but it isn't serving any purpose because they are too expensive to be hired.
Nadira Zaheer Babbar
Theatre producer-director-writer
MUMBAI: Our city faces a huge problem of lack of good auditoriums. Firstly, there are few auditoriums in the city. This doesn't encourage more people to come and see plays. Government has taken the initiative of constructing auditoriums but it isn't serving any purpose because they are too expensive to be hired. Their rent ranges from Rs 25,000 to 50,000 per day. Also, the halls' capacities are 1000–1200 which obviously don't get filled in one show. Hence, the producer can't recover his investment. What will happen to experimental theatre then?
My appeal to the government is to build small simple auditoriums with basic infrastructure. We do not want huge chandeliers, velvet curtains and red carpets. We could do without an air conditioner too. All we ask for is a small auditorium of 100 seating capacity. This way, the government can also newcomers in the theatre world and encourage experimental theatre. When a 100-seater hall is houseful it gives us a great kick to perform as opposed to see 100 people in 1200-seater hall. As it is we are facing great competition from other mediums of entertainment. In such circumstances, we find it difficult to survive.
I am seriously thinking of meeting the Chief Minister and put before him certain stark realities of the state of theatre. Some of my proposals are to subsidise the rates of the halls. Secondly, it would be of great help if they subsidise the rates of placing advertisements in newspapers; not only for the theatre events but also for other cultural events. It is disturbing how the ad rates are the same for all kinds of publicity. It is time government extends its hand to help art flourish.
—As told to Sapana Patil Poojary
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