Earlier, theatre was a means of entertainment which only appealed to the convent-educated, English speaking literati. But with changing times, theatre, along with everything else, has undergone a dramatic transformation and now caters to wider and diverse audience.
According to professionals, the various needs of the audience prompt them to experiment with new theatre forms.
Sunil Vishnu, of Evam, says, “The scenario is changing rapidly. It is no more about what we want to do and what inspires us. It is in this context that theatre has evolved and has become more interactive. We have people watching TV programmes like Lost and when they go for a play, their expectations are high.”
An area that is witnessing rapid growth is children’s theatre, with many veterans in the field taking the initiative to train and scout for young talent. Ayesha Rau, who has been at the forefront of children’s theatre, says, “Plays for children have been around for a long time. There has been a number of musicals for children over the years.”
Youngsters have also found that working in theatre can be of immense value as a learning experience. Recalls Vaishnavi Prasad, who was with the theatre group Impresario, “About three years ago, I performed for a Stage Fright production, called ‘Halloween Murder. The audience helps in solving the case. These plays require a lot of presence of mind. It can be challenging at times, and you have to constantly be in character. Theatre, as such, is independent of cinema and gives you the opportunity to be creative.”
Arjun Suresh, an ardent fan of theatre, adds, “I just heard about the Little Festival that is coming up exclusively for kids. I hope to catch some good plays.”