Indian National Theatre
Abbreviation | INT |
---|---|
Formation | 1944 |
Founded at | Bombay (now Mumbai), British India |
Type | Theatre organisation and troupe |
Purpose | Theatre production, education and research |
Coordinates | 18°57′27″N 72°48′28″E / 18.9575405°N 72.8078344°E |
Website | www |
The Indian National Theatre (INT) is a theatre organisation and troupe founded in 1943 and based in Mumbai, India. Although performing predominantly Gujarati theatre, the troupe has also produced a number of plays in other Indian languages. In addition to theatre productions, the troupe also carries theatre education, training and research activities.
History
In 1940, on the 50th birthday of
In 1942, members of socialist youth groups who supported the Quit India Movement sought to use the fledgling theatre scene as a tool for public education, resulting in arrests and imprisonment.[2]
Early performances by the theatre were of ballets or dance-dramas, such as Kalbhairav and Bhukh (Hunger), written by Avinash Vyas
and directed by Yogendra Desai.
In 1949, the INT began performing Gujarati plays such as Lagnani Bedi (Fetters of Marriage), a Gujarati adaptation of
Other notable productions included Dekh teri Bambai, Gujarati playsJesal Toral, Moti Verana Chowkma (Pearls Scattered in the Yard), and Santu Rangeeli (Enchanting Santu), and
The English productions department of the INT produced W. Somerset Maugham's The Sacred Flame directed by Adi Marzban as well as several other plays.[1]
From 1950 to 1960, the INT organised Rasgarba competitions, which started a tradition of folk performances from Saurashta and Gujarat in Mumbai. The theatre also organised the All India Folk-dance Festival in 1955 and since 1974, has been organising Intercollege Theatre Competitions (later in an association with Gujarat Samachar).[2]
Contemporary activities
The INT produces commercial, art, and folk theatre, does research on folk theatre, and trains actors and directors, and has built facilities in Gujarat and Maharashtra for these activities.[1][3]
The impresario department of the INT performs plays overseas in collaboration with the Indian Council of Cultural Relations.[2]
The INT performs throughout India in theatres as well as nontraditional venues, and uses no scenery. Productions focus on issues of social justice, and rely on pantomime and dialogue.[4]
References
- ^ OCLC 56096332.
- ^ a b c d e f g Joshi, Probodh (October 1990). "Indian National Theatre". Gujarati Vishwakosh (in Gujarati). Vol. 2 (1st ed.). Ahmedabad: Gujarati Vishwakosh Trust. pp. 703–705.
- ^ OCLC 56986659– via Oxford Reference.
- ^ "Theatre – Developments in Asia". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 6 June 2018.