GFP offers to bear auditorium rent charged to tiatrists

Margao: A month after he pledged his support to theatre artistes whose livelihoods have been hit by the Covid pandemic, Goa Forward Party (GFP) president Vijai Sardesai on Friday offered to bear the expenses of the rent of the auditoriums to the extent of Rs 10,000 per show for a maximum of three shows per director of a tiatr or a play.
He made this announcement at a press briefing held in the presence of veteran tiatrist Prince Jacob who approached Sardesai with this proposal.
“The most affected category of people during the pandemic were tiatrists. Tiatrists have generated many jobs for Goans. It was the duty of the government to provide some relief to them during their times of distress,” Jacob said.
Sardesai said that tiatr was a part of Goa’s cultural heritage and that the financial assistance offered by him to directors of tiatr/play was aimed at protecting this cultural heritage which he said was Goa’s identity.
Ravindra Bhavan Margao has opened its auditorium for staging tiatrs and plays at 50% capacity of its auditorium from September 1.
“While reopening Ravindra Bhavan for staging tiatrs at 50% capacity, the rent of auditorium should have been waived off as theatre artistes have lost their livelihoods on account of the pandemic,” Sardesai said.
Stating that he had demanded a stimulus package for theatre artistes, Sardesai criticised the government for treating tiatrists as a “laymen” in so far as the Covid relief scheme was concerned under which Covid-affected persons are eligible for a one-time grant of Rs 5,000.
“A tiatr director employs 40-50 people and therefore he shouldn’t be treated as a layman,” Sardesai said.
The Fatorda MLA had earlier advocated the need for a change in art and culture policy of the state, and stressed on the need to include performing arts in the academic curriculum with a view to conserving Goa’s rich cultural heritage.