Hutch theatre show woos audiences

Theatre in Kolkata is going through a state of flux, experimentation with different forms, style and corporate funding is infusing a new lease of life and getting the audience to visit auditoriums again, remarked Sohag Sen, theatre personality and consultant on the launch of the fifth year of the Hutchison Telecom East Limited, theatre festival "" Odeon 2005.

There should be a sustained critical role of corporate houses, not necessarily looking for profitable returns, in fostering art forms which are intrinsic to the social fabric of a city as theatre is in Kolkata, said Kumar Ramanathan, chief executive officer (CEO) of Hutchison Telecom East Limited.

Odeon 2005 is an effort to provide a platform for new scripts and theatre groups and innovation or new adaptations of old works, explained Sen.

"This year Odeon spread its wings to reach groups outside Kolkata in the suburbs which we plan to gradually increase to other towns and cities of West Bengal," Sen said.

According to Sen, festivals like Odeon assume critical importance as good work from different corners of the state should not languish and require the exposure and funding to be brought under public spotlight.

The only criteria for scripts to be eligible for consideration by the Odeon jury is that it has to be an original work which has not been performed before.

Odeon 2005 is bringing national troupes like Nadira Babbar's group Ekjute from the north and Gowri Ramnarayan's Dark Horse.

The festival will also also be promoting theatre genres like proscenium vis-a-vis intimate theatre, dance and street theatre.

The range covers 19th century Bengali themes, theatre discussions, contemporary adaptation of Sati, a life changing encounter with a poet, the changing role of women and the angst of post-modern existence.