For the love of a theatrical high

Updated on: Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Gone are the days when college students with a love for histrionics had to be content enacting their favourite lines from movies in the privacy of their bedroom, or get nostalgic looking at photos of their high-school play production.

With teachers valuing theatre as a medium of personality development, several colleges have established drama clubs, giving a platform to aspiring actors.

“Nearly 75 per cent of our students have a Tamil background. So, a drama workshop is a terrific opportunity for them to use the language and get over stage fright,” says Assistant Professor, Hindustan College of Arts and Science, Cbe, Georgina Simmons.

‘Our advents included the ‘Shakespearean Inn,’ where students learnt about the background of the characters and dressed up to enact short scripts. “We also put up 5 plays, where lighting, stage décor, make-up and costumes (saris transformed into robes and Roman slippers made from chart paper) were handled by the students,” she added.

“The students were so engrossed in this ‘fun, practical meaning given to English literature’ as compared to what they learn in regular classroom sessions that they expect more such activities,” shares Georgina.

For MOP Vaishnav College students that are members of Theatre Anu, integrating theatre into lecture sessions helps inculcate confidence, camaraderie, love for dramatics and enhances their talents. As Nithya Ramachandran likes to put it, “We had to do something to break the monotony of college.

Though it was tough initially, since we had no one to guide us, we got over lack of experience, because there was no hierarchy! In time, we students learnt about different genres , like adapted mythology, Indian contemporary sensibilities, abstract non-stereotypical art and Indian folk.

Winning events conducted by Evam, Christ College, the NLS Theatre Fest, and staging an adaptation of A. K. Ramanujan’s works as a street play kept our spirits high.”

The added responsibilities of handling the sets, lights, script, etc. combined with the thrill of winning has kept Theatre Anu members motivated.

Joining them in their enthusiasm for combining theatre with regular college, the English and Literary Society of PSG College also encouraged students to rehearse for occasional productions put up after college hours.

“Most of our plays are comedies with simple dialogues as we want to connect with the audience and it has been a most enjoyable experience," says the student, who have presented adaptations like, Mind Your Language, The President Is Coming, etc.

For the love of a theatrical high

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