Guwahati, Apr 5 : For the first time, the National School of Drama (NSD) along with the Directorate of Cultural Affairs, Government of Assam, has taken the initiative to organise a 16-day-long theatre festival of the north-east.

The fortnight-long festival 'Poorvottar Natya Samaroah' features
28 plays. It will include plays by eminent theatre directors of the north-east such as Ratan Thiyam, Kanhailal and Dulal Roy alongside works of younger directors and NSD products such as Baharul Islam and Rabijita Gogoi.

"I am very happy to know that artists from this region are encouraged. This will bring out the artistic quality and motivate them. There are many artists and nothing has been done to bring them out. The theatre festival has done good for Assam," said Sukracharjya Rabha, a director.

The aim is to bring all the artists of the region on a common platform and promote the spirit of drama. Availing the opportunity, the Rabha tribe of the State performed its first stage show.

It was a great revelation of sorts for the theatre lovers of Guwahati when they watched Rabha tribals performing in the festival.

"It was a mature performance by Rabha tribals who have never performed on such a big platform," said one of the spectators.

The festival took off on March 26 with a play titled "Nine hills One Valley" directed by Ratan Thiyam.

The main aim of the festival was to reach out to those theatre talents in the north-east, who could not reach the NSD.

Sudhir Kulkarni, a professor, NSD said, "The drama can only make you aware of the surroundings. Drama cannot change any body, one has to change himself. Through our play, we try to project problems of society."

The festival was conceived to bring together the plays produced in a series of theatre workshops organised by the NSD in different parts of the north-east under its extension programme.

Later, it was decided to include plays by senior theatre directors of the region to give it the shape of a major festival.

To hone the artistic skills of the people, NSD is going to open its first centre in the north-east in near future. (ANI)