COVID-hit mobile theatre industry gets much needed shot in the arm
STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The mobile theatre industry got a shot in the arm when after a gap of nearly two years, mobile theatres started staging shows from Saturday night following COVID protocol.
On October 8, the Assam Government issued fresh Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) allowing mobile theatre groups to stage shows maintaining COVID-19 protocol. According to the SOP, theatre groups have to complete their shows before the night curfew timings. Moreover, plays are restricted in containment zones. Also, members of the organizing committees, actors and other artistes have to take double doses of COVID-19 vaccines to take part in the shows.
On Saturday night, Abahan and Itihaas staged their first shows after about two years. Abahan theatre staged the play Joymoti at Kalag near Borbhag in Nalbari while Itihaas staged the play Bhul Nubijiba Bhupen da at Khatikuchi in Nalbari district. Both shows garnered a good response from the audience on the first day.
Talking to The Sentinel, producer of Abahan theatre, Prastuti Porasor said, "We are grateful to the Assam Government for allowing mobile theatres to stage shows. We will follow all COVID protocol." She further said, "Many artistes from the rural areas are involved in mobile theatres. The concept of mobile theatre does not exist anywhere else in India. If this year also mobile theatres had not been allowed to stage shows, the mobile theatre industry would have died. In fact, during the COVID pandemic, many artistes associated with mobile theatres had to take up other professions to sustain themselves."
Subhash Das and Akhil Kalita, producers of Itihaas theatre, said, "With people's blessings we have started staging shows. We have to thank the Assam Government for this. The government had allowed rehearsals in August this year. If the government had not permitted mobile theatres to stage shows this year, mobile theatres would have faced a lot of financial hardship. We earnestly request people to take double doses of COVID vaccine and to wear masks when they come to watch our shows."
In addition to Itihaas and Abahan, few other mobile theatre groups will also start staging shows during Durga Puja.
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