Social platform looks to engage, employ State youths
SHILLONG: The Shillong Repertory Theatre (SRT) was formally launched on Saturday to set the stage for creating job opportunities for the local youths keen on making their careers in the various segments of the theatre industry.
The Shillong Repertory Theatre, a social platform launched by NE Forward Socio Ventures (NEFSV) in association with Asian Confluence , aspires to provide contemporary theatre practices especially in the form of applied art and applying theatre practices to developing life skills, education, healthcare, employment etc., are few of the areas this initiative will be aimed at.
SRT founder and artistic director Tarun Singh Negi (Lyngdoh), who started the NE Forward Socio Ventures, aimed at empowering growth, creating sustainability and eradicating disorders affecting social and economic developments in the region said that SRT is the first step towards establishing this philosophy.
“SRT is not only committed towards developing a social environment for theatre appreciation in the region but it will be used as a tool for propagating a self-sustaining, meticulous system of empowering growth and development in the North East,” he said.
He added that they have come up with the concept to create a platform for the youths of State and the region to make a career in the theatre industry.
“We will be recruiting youths to work for the organization (NEFSV) in various capacities. We are aware that there are various fields and segments in the theatre industry to absorb the local youths,” Negi said while speaking at the launch of the SRT.
He informed that initially over 100 youths will be absorbed by the organization.
As part of the SRT’s comprehensive social strategy, statewide for employment workshops to be conducted across Meghalaya will be opened. The workshops will aim at proving employment and business opportunity with NEFSV within Meghalaya for the unemployed youths.
The registration for employment workshops will start from February 15.
“These workshops will also be used as a tool to recognize and channelise the youths’ potentials and to nurture the same by allowing them to either team one of the NEFSV’s businesses or pursue other suitable careers supported by the NEFSV,” Negi said adding that they are looking forward to organize these workshops even in the rural areas.
He said that they will also conduct short term theatre workshops for the youths who are interested in pursuing career in theatre and performing arts.
“These workshops would be regular feature at the SRT. Through these workshops, we are planning to gather an ensemble for its first grand musical which is already slated for a world tour starting in Australia in October this year. This production would travel with an aim to promote Meghalaya as a world destination,” the SRT founder said.
While stating that though SRT will be a new entrant in the region’s art and culture space, Negi said that the theatre will set a benchmark by teaming up with the practitioners from across the globe as well independent practitioners from the National School of Drama (NSD), New Delhi who will be the primary instructors for most of the workshops.
“We also want to promote and support contemporary theatre practices and practitioners from across the globe. It will be a generator of interest and attention of world theatre and art lovers towards Shillong,” Negi said.
Meanwhile, ICCR, Shillong regional officer, N Munish Singh said that the launching of the SRT will provide a much needed boost for promotion of theatre culture in Meghalaya.
He also advocated the need for community theatre by way of inviting people from the audience to be part and parcel of any play.
“As per my information, I have been informed that the people of Jaintia Hills have established some form of folk theatre. I strongly suggest that the SRT should promote folk theatre which is being followed by the people in rural areas,” Singh said.
He also said that the SRT should try to promote the culture and tradition of the indigenous people.