“All I ever wanted to do was to be up on stage, acting andlearning more from the experts around. In the current climate, it is safe tosay that there is a lot of talent around, eagerly awaiting one chance, onemoment to reach the stars,” says thespian Tathagata Chowdhury.
Chowdhury’s venture ‘Theatrecian’ is considered to be one ofIndia's prolific English theatre groups. Its main focus lies in the promotionof theatre as well as cinema. The platform it provides to budding talents is ahuge step in their pursuit of a career in the performing arts.
Established in 2000, Chowdhury ran the enterprise as aproprietorship from 2000 to 2007. In 2007, ‘Theatrecian’ was registered as asociety, of which Tathagata’s friends, Kanak Gupta and Dhruv Mookerjee arePresident and Treasurer respectively. Chowdhury is the Secretary, and prefersto refer to the trio affectionately as the Joker, the Executer and the Dreamer.
Touching on his views about the appropriate direction forgrowth of theatre in Goa, Chowdhury says, “There is a lot of potential fortheatrical development in English in Goa. However, there is no body orauthority per-se that can find an outlet for this creativity. This is evidentby the fact that regional theatre, which has governing bodies, thrives in thestate. This indicates the fact that people here can act, as well as that thestate by itself has a high rate of literacy. With a few workshops, who knowswhat heights can be reached?”
Adding on what ‘Theatrecian’ is all about, Chowdhury says,“The young can create a change. The main aim is to develop cultural andliterary activities. These would include the areas of music, literature,painting, theatre and many other areas that spill over into mass communication.We encourage young talent to explore new horizons and test their limitations.”
Chowdhury continues to leave the welcome mat out foraspiring actors, delivering news that Theatrecian will be around for a while tocome, serving as a launch pad for budding thespians. On a reflective note,Tathagata signs off by saying, “While it is true that I consult and freelancefor films and media, and I encourage my team members working with other groupsand all over the world, I don’t see myself doing anything but takingTheatrecian to new heights.”
