Bharatendu Natya Akademi all set for expansion
LUCKNOW : Bharatendu Natya Akademi (BNA), a theatre training institute here, is all set for expansion. State culture minister Neelkanth Tiwari has already shared his vision about the Academi, its theatre, internship, film and media programmes with BNA officials.
“Yes, the minister has talked about the expansion and the proposal is brilliant. This will give an impetus to theatre, drama and other cultural activities in the days to come,” said BNA director Ramesh Gupta.
“The final proposal about expansion would be ready within a fortnight,” Gupta added.
During an event held to mark the death anniversary of Bharatendu Harishchandra, the father Hindi theatre, at BNA auditorium on January 6, Tiwari had announced his plans to open branches of BNA in cities like Varanasi, Mathura, Prayagraj and Gorakhpur to promote theatre and film production at these places too. These cities are culturally rich and have a tradition of their own theatres.
An official of the department of culture confirmed that with the objective of imparting an insightful training in Indian and Western theatre, a blueprint was being prepared by the officials of the department.
“The officials are thinking about creating an institute which will teach basics of theatre like stagecraft, mime, movement, set and design, voice and speech, improvisation, theatre architecture, costume and make-up designing, light designing, direction and production,” said the official on the condition of anonymity.
“There is also a plan to organise more theatre workshops in different cities of the state. These workshops would be planned to create awareness about the theatre,” the official added.