Bengal leads in theatre promotion, says Bratya

Now pay just Rs 100 to watch theatres performed by Bollywood stars Nasiruddin Shah Sharman Joshi and Sourav Shukla in Kolkata. 

Organised by Minerva Theatre and Minerva Natyasanskriti Charchakendra, the National Theatre Festival will be kicked off this Thursday with ‘Choumatha’ of young Bengali theatre director Anirban Bhattacharya. 

State Tourism Minister and chairman of Minerva Natya Sanskriti Charcha Kendra Bratya Basu declared while speaking at a press conference here. 

The festival will be held at Minerva Theatre and Rabindra Sadan. 

Basu said with a budget of Rs 55 lakh, the week-long National Theatre Festival will be inaugurated on November 26. 

The three Bollywood stars will be performing in the last three days of the festival which will take place at Rabindra Sadan auditorium. 

Out of Rs 55 lakh, Minerva has made a target to earn Rs 3 lakh by selling tickets and the remaining amount, which is Rs 52 lakh, will be contributed by the state government. Basu also thanked Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for taking such initiative.

Basu said it was really doubtful if any other state will contribute such a big amount for theatre festival. 

He said few months ago, the state government gave nearly Rs 2 crore as aid and other components to around 300 theatre groups. 

The closing day on December 2 will have veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah presenting his satirical play ‘Gadh-ha Aur Gadd-ha’ (Donkey and hole) based on Urdu writer Krishan Chander’s works. Saurabh Shukla, on the other hand, will perform in the play ‘2 to Tango 3 to Jive’ about mid-life crisis in the life of a married man. 

Sharman Joshi will treat audiences with the laugh riot ‘Raju Raja Ram Aur Main’.