Neha Saini Amritsar, June 17 Amritsar, the theatre and performing arts capital of Punjab, has become a learning ground for aspiring theatre artistes from adjoining states, who flock to the city during summers for theatre workshops. The city hosts hundreds of theatre students from Rajasthan, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. One of the reasons for city’s preference over Chandigarh that has Panjab University’s reputed Department of Theatre and Punjabi University, Patiala, is the presence of celebrated names in the field of theatre. Kewal Dhaliwal, a Shiromani Natakar recipient and eminent name in the field, hosts annual theatre workshop for a month in collaboration with National School of Drama. “The limitation of not having any established university department offering a course in theatre and dramatics is a fact for many students, who aspire to study and pursue theatre. Amritsar’s theatre legacy and its cultural status attracts many aspiring youngsters, who seek exposure and learning from the best in the field. Their only medium are the summer workshops that most senior theatre persons conduct,” he says. “Since most of these workshops are only a month or a few weeks long, they can only learn basics. But with an established centre of learning, they might get better technical as well first-hand learning from mentors from across the country,” he adds. Kolkata-based theatre person Partho Banerjee, who is a regular mentor with Dhaliwal’s Manch Rangmanch and at the thetare workshop, too, conducts grooming workshop for freshers in Kolkata. “It’s like a travelling education for us as we have to travel to various cities to meet and learn from the nest in business,” says Kota-based Hemant Singh, 23, an aspiring theatre artiste. Hemant, along with 15 of his friends, have come to Amritsar this summer to work with Kewal Dhaliwal at his workshop. “Back home as well, very few institutes offer a professional course in theatre and those who do have limited seats. So, for us learning through first-hand experience remains the only alternative.” He says Amritsar is the preferred choice as it is closer to Rajasthan and cheaper to live as compared to Delhi. Theatre students who come here are not just taught nuances of acting and drama, but also about light and sound design, make-up costumes, mask making and set design. “Amritsar gets most students as it is the hub of cultural activities, giving students a live and intimate learning experience,” says Dhaliwal, who is also the president of the Punjab Sangeet Natak Academy.

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