Initiative of Jagtik Marathi Natyadharmi Nirmata Sangh to revive experimental theatre

Jagtik Marathi Natyadharmi Nirmata Sangh has taken initiative to revive experiment theatre. Experiment theatre is extremely important as it enriches the soul of marathi drama. An initiative was run by more than 70 Marathi playwrights who are active in the experimental theatre. As a part of the same, a zoom meeting was recently organised to find out what could be done to make the experimental theatre more capable. Dr. Anil Bandivadekar, Abhijeet Jhunjarrao, Shubhangi Damle, Vijaykumar Naik, Girish Patke, Tushar Bhadre, Sunil Gurav, Ashirwad Marathe, Pravin Kalokhe, Veena Lokur, Satish Lotke, Mukundrao Patwardhan and Ameya Khopkar, President of Natyadharmi Nirmata Sangh and members Prashant Damle, Anant Panashikar and Shripad Padmakar were discussed.  What exactly needs to be done for experimental theatre and what changes are expected over The coming period of time was discussed upon. There was a positive discussion about this in this meeting.

The main issues discussed during the discussion were getting ‘space’ for experimental plays, getting dates for experiments on Saturdays and Sundays, refunds and travel concessions from the state government to the participants in state drama competitions as well as simplification of grants for rural plays and reconsideration of government grants. Apart from these issues, different ideas such as helping to get corporate sponsorship for experimental drama festivals in small towns or metropolitan areas, setting up an audience organisation in each village to reach out to more and more experimental plays, and proper collection of plays were also discussed. The need for proper coordination of ‘Process and Protect’ was highlighted in the discussion by providing maximum avenues for the growth of experimental plays through various activities in addition to theatres. The issue of availability of cultural funds for state plays at the municipal level and the plan of the municipality to provide half of the proceeds from ticket sales to the organization by organizing a festival of these plays was discussed. The need for expansion of the concept of experimentation and empowerment of children’s theatre was highlighted at this time by planning for experimental theatre through a pressure group without person-centered thinking and taking it to completion.

The active experimental playwrights thanked the Jagtik Marathi Natyadharmi Nirmata Sangh for their prompt discussion of the experimental theatre for the first time. With the proposal that such discussions should be repeated, a resolution was tabled that a team of experimental playwrights would be formed and one of them would have a representative discussion with the Jagtik Marathi Natyadharmi Nirmata Sangh. During the discussion, Ameya Khopkar, President of Jagtik Marathi Natyadharmi Nirmata Sangha, pledged to work towards taking the theatre forward in the future by taking proper note of the guidance given by the present playwrights and suggestions for betterment.