Tiatr advertisements carried by Playwright Mariano Fernandeson the newspapers invariably carry a caution on the top ‘Do not buy tickets inblack’. This is not an unusual phenomenon in tiatr anymore, since blackmarketing of tiatr tickets is not a rampant occurrence.
It has been happeningfor a while but recently the ‘traders’ have become adventurous and tickets inblack are available in plenty both in Panjim and Margao. Mariano says, ‘Thereis un-controlled black marketing of tickets for my show ‘Ek Ghor Chear Vantte’at the Ravindra Bhavan in Margao and at the Kala Academy Panjim. A Rs 70 ticketis sold in black for a minimum of Rs 250 to even Rs. 500. What is worse is thatthere are people who are waiting in line for these tickets and this is whatencourages the black marketeers.’
But, as a playwright there’s only so much he can do. “Ican’t really control black marketing of tiatr tickets. I even went to theextent of summoning the police to Ravindra Bhavan to control the menace, but,it was not so successful.”
Black marketing of tickets is a malaise which affects boththe playwright as well as the tiatr goer and forces ardent tiatr fans to pay apremium for the ticket. It is not only Mariano Fernandes but the otherplaywrights too are affected by this unhealthy practice. Rose Ferns, anotheraccomplished playwright whose tiatrs are always house full says, “This ishappening for a long time now.
Tiatr lovers should not wait for the last minuteto buy tickets; they should make sure they book tickets in advance. The otherday, during one of my shows the cops apprehended four people indulging in thispractice and whisked them away.” Unfortunately, the four people were notarrested and no action taken against them. This doesn’t help the morale ofplaywrights and directors. The authorities need to crack down heavily on blackmarketeers, which will slow down the business. But so far, tiatrists feelhelpless.
Prince Jacob says ‘If the people stop patronising theseillegal ticket sellers the practice will die on its own. All depends on theaudience. They should either book in advance or not buy tickets in black. Thereis very little a playwright can do to stop this practice. All we can do isstage another show for the benefit of tiatr lovers.”
