Lok Sabha Question No. 230 (STARRED), answered on 2018-03-12
Subject: International Theatre Olympics
Ministry: CULTURE
Asked by: T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUDHEER GUPTA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CULTURE

## LOK SABHA

## STARRED QUESTION NO. *230 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.03.2018

## INTERNATIONAL THEATRE OLYMPICS

*230: SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN: SHRI SUDHEER GUPTA:

Will the Minister of CULTURE be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  India's  traditional  theatre  is  not  getting  the  recognition  and  opportunity  it deserves, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor along with the reaction of the Government thereto;
- (b) whether the Government has inaugurated the 8th International Theatre Olympics, 2018 in New Delhi recently, if so, the details thereof and the theme of the event;
- (c) the number of countries along with the number of participants in the said event;
- (d) the activities/programmes organised during the said event; and
- (e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to draw international attention towards Indian theatre?

## MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR CULTURE AND MINISTER OF STATE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

(DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

## ANSWER

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## Statement referred to in reply to parts (a) to (e) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *230 for 12.03.2018 regarding International Theatre Olympics

- (a): No Sir. Traditional theatre gets recognition and is showcased at the national and international levels through theatre-festivals, Solo shows, theatre workshops and other such events.  The National School of Drama (NSD), an autonomous  organization  under  Ministry  of  Culture  and  primarily  a  theatre training  institute  imparting  training  in  Dramatic  Arts  leading  to  3  years' Diploma, is mandated to take steps to promote Indian traditional theatre by organising workshops, festivals and other allied activities.

Some of the measures taken by the NSD in this behalf are indicated below:-

-  As  part  of their    syllabus/curriculum  students  are  imparted  training  in traditional theatre genres like the Yakshagana, Chhau, Terukkuttu, Kudiyattam, Kalaripayttu, Thang-Ta, Ankia Nat, Sattriya, Parsi, Ankia Baona Nautanki.
-  As part of the curriculum, students of the NSD also visit different regions of the  country  to  perform,  research  and  develop  theatre  forms  prevalent  in these regions, which are quite diverse in nature. This helps to make people aware of the dramatic art traditions of the area.
-  For  this  purpose,  under  the  Out-reach/Extension      Programme,  production oriented theatre workshops across the country are conducted in collaboration with the local theatre groups and plays are also performed, as part of these workshops..
-  Further,  NSD  has  also  opened  centres  in  the  North  -East  at  Sikkim  and Tripura and in Bengaluru to introduce, encourage, promote and preserve the culture and traditions of the local people.
-  Apart from the above, NSD also organizes theatre festivals like Bharat Rang Mahotsav  (annually)  at  Delhi  and  in  few  selected  cities  of  the  country  ,  in which Theatre groups are encouraged to showcase traditional theatre.
-  Bal  Sangam  (biennially)  and  Jashne  Bachpan  (biennially)  for  children  are also organized in Delhi.
-  Poorvottar  festival is also organized in the North-East region for the purpose of promotion, preservation of the customs, traditions, practices and dramatic arts etc. prevalent in these areas through the medium of  Theatre. Plays from other parts of the country are also showcased in this festival.
-  Tribal festivals are also organized in various parts of the country from time to time as a regular feature in tribal dominated areas.

- (b): The 8 th Theatre Olympics was inaugurated by Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon'ble Vice-President of India on 17 th February, 2018 at Red Fort, Delhi. Dr. Mahesh Sharma,  Hon'ble  Minister  of  Culture  (I/C)  and  Mr.Theodoros  Terzopoulos, Chairman,  International  Committee  of  Theatre  Olympics  were  the  Guests  of Honour  on  this  occasion.  Mr.  Jaroslaw  Fret,  Executive  Member,  International Committee of Theatre Olympics, Mr. Jaroslaw Jozef Broda, Head of Culture of Poland, Ms. Nagdalena Marda, artist of Teatr ZAR were Special Guests on this occasion.  The  inaugural  function  was  followed  by  Geet  Rang-  A  Collage  of Indian Theatre Music.

The 8 th Theatre Olympics 2018 is being organized during 17 th February to 8 th April 2018 in the cities of Agartala, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guwahati, Imphal, Jaipur, Jammu, Kolkata,  Mumbai,  Patna,  Thiruvanathapuram  and  Varanasi.    More  than  465 performances from India and foreign countries are being showcased during this period. The closing ceremony of the event would be organized on 8 th April, 2018 in Mumbai.

The Theme (Motto) of the 8 th Theatre Olympics is ''Flag of Friendship''

- (c): There  are  25  Countries  participating  in  this  mega  event  with  about  25000 Theatre Artists.
- (d)&(e): In addition to the performances of over 400 plays from 17 th February to 8 th April, 2018, the other activities being organized include interfaces with 60 living legends and 50 master classes  along with    300  allied  programs. 2  International  seminars would be held in Delhi and Mumbai with 6 National Seminars hosting National and International  scholars  across  Bhopal,  Bengaluru,  Kolkata,  Varanasi,  Jaipur  and Chandigarh.  India  will  also  exhibit/showcase  its  age  old  practices,  Customs,  and Theatre  forms  prevalent  in  different  parts  of  the  country  through  the  medium  of Theatre.

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