There was a time in history when amphitheatres were brilliant edifices of engineering,which added that wow factor to various performances. The view from the terraced rows was as important as the marquee act played by these amphitheatres. The status may not have remained the same. But,come summer,when a gust of wind breezes across the open theatres under the starry skies and they become an ideal setting for a play,a music concert,a dance performance or other acts. The quaint amphitheater at Nek Chands Rock Garden has acted as the perfect backdrop for a long time. It is also the place where thespian Neelam Man Singh chooses to stage her plays. The latest was Little Eyolf in March. Warm and welcoming is how the theatre director describes it. Closed auditoriums come with their rules and regulations and time constraints. Here,space is free and there are no pressures, says Mansingh,who puts in her extra creative bit to make the amphitheater look colourful with cushions and sheets on the stairs along with flowers,candles and special entry points during her shows. Singh agrees that it is expensive to create the complete light and sound infrastructure and sets et al,but the effort is worth it. My play The Suit,was not designed for the outdoors,but I just couldnt conceive staging it anywhere else. Therefore,I made changes to the stage accordingly, says Mansingh. Though designed for 350 people,Singh recalls how 800 people turned up for a show recently. They all found space,adjusted themselves. The good thing is that the place appears full anyways, smiles Singh. With its green cover,pleasant evenings,low pollution levels and ample space,amphitheatres in Chandigarh are usually eventful. Now Panchkula has its first grand and brand-new amphitheater at Hotel Bella Vista in Sector 6. It was thrown open to the public two weeks back with a concert titled The Furtados Experiment,which got together five musicians,who presented an interesting blend of Indian classical and Bollywood along with some rock,jazz,blues. With theatre style seating for more than 350 people,the place allows the audience to enjoy a meal alongside,with the stairs easily accommodating a table. Jaskirat Singh,the Vice President of the Hotel says,Summer evenings will see a lot of activity here,the next being a mega fashion event. At the Strawberry World School,the amphitheater with a capacity of 400 people,is all set to open its doors. Atul Khanna,the Director,is looking forward to organising music concerts,dance recitals and plays this summer,otherwise a dull season. Overlooking the green field,adjoining the amphitheater is a garden cafe,that makes the place more intimate. The oldest amphitheater at the Punjab Kala Bhavan has not retired. It is booked almost every weekend for short plays,folk music performances and is the place for young artists to brainstorm. With Rose Garden next door,a small tuck shop,low rents,this open air theatre has been our haunt for years now, says theatre actor Rajeev Sethi as he digs into some hot patties with co-actor Vinay Sharma to get ready for Premkatha,a comedy written by Sharad Joshi.
