Jalandhar group enlivens Punjabi theatre scene

No one would have imagined that theatre would sell tickets in Jalandhar. In 2016, for the first time, 10 theatre productions ran to nearly packed house and the audience paid for tickets. Indeed a landmark moment in the history of Punjabi theatre.

The group behind the move, YUVAA — founded by Prof Ankur Sharma — is holding fifth edition of its Punjabi Rang Utsav this year. Plays staged by Punjab Naatshala and YUVAA at Saigal Memorial Hall, Jalandhar, remain the only two ticketed theatre spaces in the state, barring Chandigarh. Every year, YUVAA organises two theatre festivals — YUVAA Rang Utsav (10 chapters held) KL Saigal Punjabi Rang Utsav (fifth edition underway).

In early 2000s, auditoriums in Jalandhar had thin audience. With creaking microphones, falling wigs and characters forgetting their lines the theatre needed a resurrection of sorts. A bunch of feisty playwrights livened up the theatre scene in Doaba, but theatre never got wider acclaim.

Starting with modest means, YUVAA theatre group, founded by the English professor and his lead actor Vikram in 2008, changed things with ‘disciplined’ outings. Prof Ankur getting a Special Research Fellowship at the Yale School of Drama in 2014-15 and a Shakespeare Acting course at RADA, London, in 2016 enhanced the group’s credibility.

In the meantime, YUVAA spread the word about theatre with nukkad nataks. The group members would reach newspaper stalls at 3.30 am to insert pamphlets. Nearly 4,000 pamphlets were disbursed from door to door in 2017, with pleas to people to show up.

Pithy, crisp productions with no chief guests and punctual bell systems in AC halls marked a sea change in the theatre scene. In 2016, YUVAA went commercial. It has produced 46 plays, directed by Prof Ankur, and performed over 500 shows in 17 years.

What was it about YUVVA, which made it commercially viable in a city like Jalandhar despite not-so-enthusiastic theatre scene? “It may be said we have gone ‘commercial’ but we’re still priced much less than a burger sold by an MNC firm. The idea isn’t commerce but discipline of space. It was important to go commercial to get people serious towards the theatre. To instil discipline in actors for a serious audience. With a paying audience, you can’t be a lousy, casual actor. You can’t fool them. We ensured good value for money, an atmosphere devoted to art, got rid of speeches and so-called protocols. Our audience is the VIP. There’s no in-between,” said Prof Ankur.

How does Saigal Memorial Hall compare with Punjab Naatshala or Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh and how does the state or Jalandhar theatre compare with productions and spaces in Mumbai or Delhi? Asked if the theatre has a long way to go infrastructure wise, Prof Ankur said, “We are nowhere near Naatshala. It’s a properly designed space on a par with international standards, with a revolving stage and other infrastructure. Yet Saigal Memorial Hall is special and we have been able to use it creatively.” With additions in infrastructure at the memorial hall, it has potential to be the best art space in Punjab, he added.

On dearth of mainstream commercial theatre groups in the state, he said, “It’s not a very bright scenario. West Bengal, Manipur, Madhya Pradesh and even cities like Mumbai, Delhi and Ahmedabad have hundreds of theatre groups that are professionally active, getting grants and aids through government schemes. But in Punjab, it becomes a huge challenge to curate 10 good plays for a Punjabi theatre festival. Just a few names are repeated over and over again. In the past, the Akademi and the doyens of theatre have failed to encourage and support organised theatre in the state. Grants have been used up by the top few who have thrived. The rest, including groups like ours, either try to survive on meagre private sponsorships or quietly fade away after some performances. Serious directors and groups must be encouraged. The government is also making efforts to reboot the theatre scene.”

Silver lining for theatre

“Too much of screen is eventually going to be tiresome. These are among most turbulent times — Covid, global conflicts and now trade war. Everything is uncertain. Theatre isn’t separate from us. We’re all going through ups and downs and crave for sharing a space, to tell our stories and listen to the stories of others. Theatre provokes our imagination and thought. As long as we have feelings and open spaces, we will perform,” said Prof Ankur.

Punjab