Latest news with #Theatre
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Grief & tributes pour in over theatre maestro Thiyam's death
1 2 Guwahati: The death of renowned theatre maestro Ratan Thiyam plunged the nation into mourning, with an outpouring of grief and tributes from political leaders, cultural figures, and theatre communities across India. Manipur governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla and former chief minister N Biren Singh led the the tributes from Manipur, highlighting his significant contributions to India's cultural landscape. In a statement, the Manipur govt said, "With profound grief and deep sorrow, we mourn the passing of Padma Shri recipient and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Ratan Thiyam — a towering figure in Indian theatre and a cultural icon of Manipur. We join the artistic fraternity and the nation in remembering his extraordinary legacy." The Manipur Raj Bhavan said on X, "The Governor stated that his invaluable contribution to Manipuri theatre and culture will always be remembered. Heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and admirers. " Singh, in a post on X, wrote, "It is with deep sorrow that I express my heartfelt condolences on the passing of Ratan Thiyam, a true luminary of Indian theatre and an esteemed son of Manipur. His unwavering dedication to his craft, his vision, and his love for Manipuri culture enriched not only the world of theatre but also our very identity. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 11 Foods That Help In Healing Knee Pain Naturally Undo His work carried the soul of Manipur — echoing its stories, its struggles, and its beauty. " Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma called him "a leading light of the Theatre of Roots movement," saying, "Shri Ratan Thiyam dedicated his life to bring indigenous theatre and art practices to the global stage. A Padma awardee, his productions were rich in talent and messaging." Meghalaya chief minister Conrad Sangma said: "He was a visionary who redefined Indian theatre by blending contemporary form with the cultural soul of Manipur. His legacy will continue to inspire." West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee mourned him as "a true legend who put Manipuri theatre on the global map" and said, "His unique blend of tradition and experiment enriched Indian performing arts immensely and resonated worldwide." Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi, deputy leader in the Lok Sabha, also expressed his grief, saying, "Thiyam's legacy will continue to inspire generations to come." Renowned Kolkata-based theatre veterans like Rudra Prasad Sengupta and Kaushik Sen also paid tribute, recalling Thiyam's frequent presence at theatre festivals in the city and his powerful influence on modern Indian theatre. Ratan Thiyam was a trailblazer of the "Theatre of Roots" movement, which synthesised Indian classical, folk, and tribal performance forms with contemporary theatrical expression. He founded the Chorus Repertory Theatre in Imphal in 1976, which became a national and international symbol of rooted yet experimental theatre. His groundbreaking works like Chakravyuha, Urubhangam, Uttar Priyadarshi, and Lengshonnei challenged the boundaries of traditional Indian theatre and brought the richness of Manipuri aesthetics, spirituality, and politics to the global stage. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards, including Padma Shri (1989) and Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1987). He relinquished the Padma Shri in 2001 in protest against the Centre's decision to extend the ceasefire with the Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland. Ratan Thiyam's passing is not only a great loss for Manipur, which he deeply loved and represented through his art, but also for the entire nation and the global theatre community. His relentless pursuit of truth, his seamless weaving of text and tradition, and his unmatched visual poetics have etched his name into the canon of world theatre.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
Leading theatre artist Ratan Thiyam, first NSD graduate from Manipur who went on to become its director, passes away
Ratan Thiyam, an eminent theatre personality from Manipur, passed away in Imphal on Wednesday. He was 77. Thiyam, along with others such as B V Karanth and K N Panniker, was one of the leading figures in the Theatre for Roots, a post-Independence theatre movement in which practitioners embraced traditional and indigenous practices as a process of decolonisation. His plays, which were staged and performed at international platforms too, drew from the epics, dances and movement forms from Manipur, as well as other parts of India. The themes ranged from environmental crisis to Manipur's socio-politics. He had founded his group, Chorus Repertory Theatre, in 1976. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the group wrote, 'Dear Ojha, you held us close like a father's embrace, guiding us through every challenge with love and care. Though the pain of your absence is heavy, we hope your soul now rests in peace.' He had been awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Direction in 1987. A graduate from the National School of Drama – the first from Manipur – Thiyam later served as its Director from 1987 to 1988 and then as its Chairman from 2013 to 2017. He had also served as the vice-chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. As condolence messages poured in for Thiyam on Wednesday, Inner Manipur MP Bimol Akoijam wrote, 'It's a terrible loss! Legendary playwright Ratan Thiyam has passed away today in Imphal. An alumnus of the National School of Drama who later on became its Director and Chairman, and also former Vice Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Academy, he's an embodiment of our culture and struggle. It's a great personal loss for me as well… Besides the images, thoughts and emotions that his plays embody, I will never forget the pain he has shared with me as he confronts the present situation of his beloved Manipur! The agony that he felt could only come from a patriot! We'll miss you Oja!'
Otago Daily Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Otago Daily Times
‘Crate diggers' in for treat at sale
Regent Theatre Music Sale co-ordinator Mark Burrows examines a pressing of Eccentric Soul: The Nickel & Penny Labels amid boxes of DVDs at the theatre before its annual music sale on Saturday. PHOTO: PETER MCINTOSH Whether it is French field recordings, esoteric minimalist music or a 1959 concert at Dunedin's Town Hall, "crate diggers" are in for a treat at this year's Regent Theatre Music Sale. CDs, vinyl records, cassettes, DVDs, music sheets and more will be up for grabs at little cost on Saturday for the theatre's third annual sale. Sale co-ordinator Mark Burrows said about 1000 banana boxes worth of stock had been received so far. The music sale began as an off-shoot of the Regent Theatre's 24 Hour Book Sale to raise funds for the theatre. They were expecting a "real range" of customers on Saturday, Mr Burrows said. "Old guys like me, there'll be a bunch of them, crate diggers, but there's students who will turn up and look for a bargain or just out of curiosity." While the volume of donations was similar to last year, the quality this time around was better, he said. One particular donation contained next-to-new vinyl records that were "so outside the 99.5% of people's listening experience". This included a collection of electronic "non-music", which he believed were French field recordings of which only 350 copies were ever made. Also received was "a bunch of really interesting esoteric unusual music" of a "minimalist vein". "It'll be basically meaningless to the whole public, except for two people down at the music department in the University of Otago." Music from New Zealand bands such as the JPS Experience and Sneaky Feelings were also among the mix, as well as a recording of selected items from the King Edward Technical College Jubilee Music Festival, performed at the Dunedin Town Hall in August 1959. Vinyl records and CDs were good because they were physical mediums you could pick up and look at, Mr Burrows said. They had "just got cool". "So, I think it reflects a bit of that fringe edge of society. There's always people who are looking for cool stuff that the rest of the 95% don't know about. "And then there's the other side of it, the audiophile community, who believe, for good reason, that vinyl sounds better." The music sale runs from 10am to 6pm.
CTV News
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
25th anniversary for Monster Theatre
Winnipeg Watch Performer Tara Travis, speaks about a big milestone and Til Death: The Six Wives of Henry VIII
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Fringe spotlight: Crosswalk's The Birdcage
Fringe spotlight: Crosswalk's The Birdcage Director Mitch Krohn and actor Sadie Kornovski talk about their inclusive take on The Birdcage at this year's Fringe.
