Professional Touch

This led to the setting up of Theatre Professionals in Mumbai in 2008. After conducting a series of workshops that tried to infuse certain vigour and professionalism among theatre artistes,Manekshaw is now opening the Drama School,Mumbai. Once it starts its inaugural session on July 1 at the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh in Girgaum — famous in the ’50s for being the foundry of Marathi theatre practice — will provide 18 students with an intensive drama programme. The school will start with a one-year certificate-programme in Acting and Theatre Making. This will include six months each of training and working on a professionally directed production. The last date of application for this is May 15 and details regarding the same are available on thedramaschoolmumbai.in .

“There is an urgent need to create a new standard of professional theatre in this country. Keeping that in mind,we need longer engagements with aspiring theatre professionals,” says Manekshaw. He adds that during the course,the school will bring faculty members trained from across the world as well as masters from the deepest traditions of Indian theatre. This will also be an alternative for those who want to pursue a career in theatre but don’t have access to formal training. Till now,the best option for them has been the National School of Drama in Delhi,or expensive programmes abroad.

According to Manekshaw,what’s most interesting about this school is its location. “The idea is to have a drama school in an urban space. Some of the best drama schools of the world are in urban areas and this gives the students access to theatre practitioners,” he says. The school wants to put the students in touch with the practitioners and help them forge a working relationship. “We plan to condition students to pick up skills and put them to use almost immediately. The course will demand a constant application of their skills,” he adds.