Artistes of Rangmanch stage Anath and Bihar Art Theatre stages another play, at Kalidas Rangalaya. Telegraph pictures

Promotion and restoration of theatre — a dying art form in the city — is in the hands of the audience and the organisers’ access to funds.

Stage artistes are overshadowed in the hearts of audience thanks to other modes of entertainment — small or big screens — available to them.

Theatre groups and organisers are doubly disappointed. Most members claim the government is not coming forward in any manner to help sustain theatre, leaving them to fund shows out of their own pockets.

Others were of the view that repetition of the same shows had driven away audiences.

Upender Kumar, a director who stages shows at Kalidas Rangalaya, said: “I have conducted a number of shows here since 1990. Now, more and more youths are coming for the shows, attracted by the medium, unlike before when it was difficult to draw people to the form owing to lack of resources. However, while there are more artistes now, the number of audiences has gone down.”

He added: “Every month, 10-15 shows are organised and I raise funds for the show. Unfortunately, I never receive a good return or response. Today, people are so busy in their work that they hardly find time for other sources of entertainment apart from TV, big screen or the Internet.”

The three-decade-old venue near Gandhi Maidan roundabout has a seating capacity of 485. If 10 years back, around 400-500 people would attend the shows staged by directors like Kumar, now the number has dropped to 150-180 people.

Kala Kunj is another organisation in the state that helps artistes stage shows.

Its general secretary, Om Kapoor, said: “Plays are associated with our culture but today people seem less attracted towards this art form. If three decades back, we would stage one-two shows a month, the figure has now come down to one show in four-five months. A major reason for this is we have to raise funds from our own pockets and do not get any assistance from the government.”

Lack of promotion is another regret for the organisers. Kapoor said: “Non-commercialisation of the shows leads to fewer sale of tickets and repetition of the same stories (mostly by Premchand) finds few takers. In spite of all these problems, we still manage to put up shows by amateur groups.”

Upender Kumar said: “Mumbai is the only place where the audience shows a lot of enthusiasm towards stage shows, as big celebrities come to advertise and promote them. In metros like Calcutta and New Delhi, too, theatre groups do not get sufficient returns.”

But not every theatre enthusiast has lost hope.

“We think the world is full of art and there are still people who know the value of artistes, and we are one of them. No matter how hard the time is for a theatre artiste, the show must go on,” said Sami Ahmad, senior associate, Indian People’s Theatre Association, Bihar.

He, however, added: “Amateur artistes of today fail to understand the meaning of staging shows. Their lack of enthusiasm and passion has led to audiences dwindling.”