Educationalist Raj Bisaria

1 educationalist

1.1 theatre arts workshop

1.1.1 english theatre
1.1.2 hindi , urdu theatre


1.2 bhartendu academy of dramatic arts

educationalist

as dramaturge primary concern effort resolve problem of creative reinterpretation of classical , theatrical art of region find in contemporary social relevance. structured theatre training programmes in u.p. through workshops , certificate , diploma courses in north india 1966. founded in 1975 government of u.p. india s second school of drama: bhartendu natya akademi-bhartendu academy of dramatic arts.

raj bisaria interested actor, director , theatre teacher in system of konstantin stanislavski , bertolt brecht. russian theatre practitioer provides core of raj bisaria s directing , pedagogy in contemporary indian theatre. later, developed own system of holistic acting, produced 3 generations of actors , directors.

theatre arts workshop

in december 1963, ten members organized theatre play , put through programme – evening young actors – included edna st. vincent millay’s aria da capo, scenes twelfth night , macbeth, valiant , dramatized reading of hamlet, , dramatisation of t. s. eliot s poem love song of j. alfred prufrock. raj bisaria produced , directed play, , decided register theatre group managing body, using local talent. theatre group bilingual (english , hindi), , concerned encouraging interest in theatre-craft , developing greater awareness of theatre, ability appreciate drama, , firmer grap of ideas , technique.

by winter of 1965, plans had been finalized. no financial forthcoming yet. finally, staked large part of personal fortune on project, selected members committee, picked out group of 4 english actors , of helpers, , established has since been called theatre arts workshop – theatre enthusiasts in drama , allied arts.

thus in 1966, theatre arts workshop (taw) founded raj bisaria, president , artistic director, aim of creating interest in dramatic arts among young, , them develop insight acting, direction , allied arts. name ‘theatre arts workshop’ unit theatre , allied performing arts; members exposed workshop methods of representation. taw training organization , performing group, motto ‘training before performance’. philosophy right work only, never fruit thereof. let not fruit of action object, nor let attachment inaction. – sri krishna sorrowing arjuna (the bhagvadgita, chapter ii - 47)

english theatre

raj bisaria started venture in english language shakespeare’s othello in 1966, christopher fry s poetic play phoenix frequent , eugène ionesco’s absurd play lesson in 1967. selection of these 2 plays; diametrically opposite in form , content, in single show experiment raj bisaria. box office failure.

in 1967 significant advance made when raj bisaria decided produce , direct jean-paul sartre s existential in camera, edna st. vincent millay’s aria da capo , ronald duncan’s translation of 12th century classic abelard , heloise in three-bill presentation, in november, 1967. these crucial productions taw’s audience wavered between shocked admiration , shocked disgust. 4 hours of continuous drama considereda bit much.

hindi , urdu theatre

raj bisaria aware beginning worthwhile theatre activity had find moorings in hindi , other indian languages. sought co-operation of existing theatre groups realize plans establish bilingual theatre in lucknow. effort failed elicit response them. brought production rights of mohan rakesh’s known play, adhe-adhure, not stage want of suitable cast. in bid switch on hindi drama, invited delhi groups produce, under taw’s auspices, plays in hindi view making local groups conscious of potentialities , challenges of hindi theatre.

taw’s first hindi play baqi itihas, translation of badal sircar’s bengali play on thrust stage. non-realistic presentation, using giant slides , specially designed music, first production of kind in country.

baqi itihas followed wide range of plays in translation english, bengali, marathi, kannada, in addition in hindi; andha yug, suno janmejaya, adhe-adhure, cave dwellers, antigone, garbo, candida, father, sleuth, barefoot in athens, caretaker etc.

taw considered protagonist of theatre art, classical experimental plays .

taw mounted on stage european , american playwrights; repertoire including shakespeare, shaw, sartre, ionesco, fry, arthur miller, tennessee williams, noël coward, ronald duncan, rattigan, harold pinter, ann jellicoe, peter shaffer, edward albee, jean anouilh, maxwell anderson , orton.

according pioneer, dynamism of taw productions, stylistic experimentation , directorial subtlety, never in doubt on either side of proscenium. taw s plays proved radical in context of existing provincial attitudes.

bhartendu academy of dramatic arts

as theatre educator 1973, raj bisaria suggested state government should start semi-professional repertory theatre in uttar pradesh, in 1974 state government went few steps further , requested him evolve scheme establishing drama school, function full-fledged academy of dramatic arts.

bhartendu natya akademi (bna): bhartendu academy of dramatic arts (bada), when founded in 1975 became first of kind in large hindi belt of bihar, uttar pradesh, madhya pradesh , rajasthan. other being delhi-based national school of drama. 1975 1986, in honorary capacity, had responsibility of teaching acting , direction (aspects both theoretical , practical) western drama, greeks modern times; theatre criticism , adjudication , aesthetics of light, , set design. worked again as, director of academy director of repertory company 1989 1992, 1995 1997.

as theatre administrator minimal facilities, poor funds , negligible infrastructure, has developed , consolidated viability , status of school of theatre beginning elementary agency dissemination of theatrical know-how in 1976 professional academy of dramatic arts in 1981.