Online theatre festival

    Kolkata, Nov 28 (PTI) Online theatre talents in the
world are showcasing their act on e-stage due to the
COVID-19 pandemic bridging Copenhagen and Kolkata audiences in
a one-of-its-kind drama festival over weekends in end
November.
    Performing online to real-time audience, irrespective
of geographical boundaries, language barriers and the pandemic
triggered crisis, groups from Brazil, USA, UK, Finland,
Sweden, Germany... hosts India will perform over the weekends
on November 28 and 29 at The Good The@ter Festival & Aw@rds,
Festival Co-Director and Founder Member, Sumit Lai Roy told
PTI on Friday.
    The finalists, who had performed on the two earlier
weekend dates on November 21 and 22, will be judged by a jury
from the Philippines, Singapore, India, Italy, Finland, the UK
and USA.
    Aimed at honouring the best theatre talent in the
world, the awards underscore live connection between audience
and performer.
    "Each production is e-staged twice over Zoom so that
anyone with a wi-fi connection anywhere in the world can
experience the performance from his/her home," Roy said.
    Eminent theatre personality and jury panelist Ananda
Lal said, "For me, the most significant takeaway from the
festival is its international scope, assembling artists and
jurists from five continents on one platform. I am not aware
of any similar initiative in theatre this year -- online or
offline."
    Another well-known theatre activist and jury member
Shernaz Patel said, "What has been heartening is to see
artistes from the world over come together, which to me is the
one silver lining of this pandemic... this solidarity, this
togetherness...is a joy to behold."
    Director of festival finalist from India 'A Little Bit
Closer' production Preeti Gupta said "this gives stage actors
the opportunity to showcase their work and audiences an
opportunity to watch and also contribute to saving lives and
this art form itself."
    A Mangai, Director of another festival finalist "One
Can Only Laugh" said "so many continents have come together.
It is not the technology, but the humanity that has impressed
me the most. I do believe this spirit of online togetherness
of theatre will continue after we are able to resume plays in
auditoriums and streets."
    Elaborating on the plays staged on zoom, he said
"Macbeth", from Northern Ireland, demonstrated that just like
when Shakespeare initially performed at The Globe Theatre, the
audience could get very involved in a Zoom staging.
    He said online theatre festival will not only help the
economically challenged artists for whom the funds are being
raised, it will help every performer realise that theatre has
found a new genre. One does not have to stop doing stage plays
just because the auditoria are currently closed. Both genres
of theatre will continue in the future. PTI SUS
RG RG

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)