For right direction, aspirants turn to workshop

Interestingly, of the 150 entries received by the organisers, 60 people were shortlisted, whereas the initial intention was to take only 35 students. 8220;The response was so overwhelming that we were compelled to increase the seat capacity of the class,8221; says Kendre, lamenting the lack of training facilities for theatre directors in Mumbai, the supposed centre of theatre activity. 8220;I have not come across a single concerted effort to offer formal training to directors in Mumbai, neither in Marathi nor in any other language.

Workshops have been conducted for writers and actors in the past. But there is no support structure for the captain of the team, who is just left to learn by trial and error,8221; he added.

Kendre said many young and upcoming directors, like Devendra Pem of All The Best fame, expressed the need to be exposed to the fundamentals of direction. However, it was not possible to arrange for a rigorous course. Therefore, it was decided to initiate the process through a short one-week crash course. The profile of the participants demonstrates the much-felt need for this orientation programme.

Majority of the students have participated in either state-level or inter-collegiate theatre competitions or one-act plays staged by different institutions. Young directors who already have plays to their credit, like Pem, Vijay Nikam and Anil Deshmukh have also joined the workshop.

The director8217;s workshop has been based on practicals and lecture demonstrations which expose the students to various facets of direction. Different exercises are devised to bring home the essence of the craft. For instance, the students are asked to conjure up an image in association with a particular word. Then they are asked to visualise a scene/sequence in relation to a given subject in a particular timeframe.

Later, they will be asked to write and direct a two-minute skit. 8220;This workshop will at least make them aware of the many disciplines required in direction. Direction does not mean getting rehearsals done on time. But as theatre personality B V Karanth says, a director must have an eye for the visual and a ear for music and of course a thourough understanding of human nature,8221; Kendre added. Interestingly, the workshop dwells on the qualities required of a director. Kendre says the students have been told as to who can be a director.8217; Someone who has the patience to pull out the desired effect from a team of artistes actors and back stage can be a director, Kendre added.