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The Extension Programme of National School of Drama connects the school based in
Delhi to various regional theatres in the country. Through a series of well planned
theatre workshops, taking into account the specific needs of each region, the School
has been imparting training and producing plays with the theatre workers spread
all over the country. Those who cannot afford to spend three years at NSD, and those
who have been doing theatre for considerable time are trained in these workshops.
Through this programme the School also establishes contact with a large number of
theatre groups and institutions that are doing excellent work in the regions by
undertaking collaborative projects.
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In recent years, NSD under its Extension Programme organized a series of theatre
workshops in the North Eastern States. The workshops proceeded on the basis of a
3-step programme - the first was to arouse interest amongst all participants about
the intricacies of the theatre experience - performance and transference; the second
was to impart training in the area and the third was to help and guide them to prepare
productions on the basis of the received training. Once the productions were ready
participants were given an opportunity to stage 10 shows each in different areas
of the region so as to gain self-confidence and a variety of experience and audience
interaction. And finally, the School decided to come up with a platform to showcase
these productions, wherein lies the genesis of the Poorvottar Natya Samaroh.
The first Poorvottar Natya Samaroh was organized in Guwahati in 2007 and the second
at Gangtok, Sikkim in 2008. The plays participated in the Poorvottar Natya Samaroh
dealt with a variety of subjects ranging over romance, social issues like caste,
gender, exploitation in a feudal society, survival and hope in a conflict-torn social
context, philosophical principles and resistance.
This mix of the theatre experience will not only allow for an intermingling of all
those involved, but the range of representation and performance will also underline
different forms of portrayal, each one as valid as the other. By underlining this
unity in the diversity of human life and existence, the Festival hopes to provide
a space of meaningful interaction and engagement for all.
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