Paradip: A three-month-long free training programme on acting, news casting and anchoring has started here to hone the budding talents.

Organised by Canmass, a theatre organisation, the programme has attracted local youths, who want to get trained in acting and news casting.

There is no age bar for taking part in the workshop. Some 24 persons, including 18 women and six men, have already enrolled for the programme.

"The training programme comes absolutely free. It intends to generate the right kind of attitude and perception of theatre as a vital medium of education in a broader prospective. It is laying focus on ventures to project basic approach to various schools of acting, design, direction, management and playwriting. Besides, those aspiring to be news anchors in the electronic medium are being imparted special training," said Canmass secretary Sriman Mishra.

"Our organisation had launched this sort of training programme three years ago. It continues to arouse immense interest in amateur theatre artistes and youths. Some of the trained students have already tasted success in their professional pursuits," he said.

Apart from imparting acting skills among stage artistes, participants are also being given comprehensive knowledge regarding everything related to theatre. Right from stage decoration, stage light arrangements to essential ingredients of script and dialogue - an attempt is being made to make the participants familiar with the basics of everything, he said.

"I was drawn towards drama and theatre activities since childhood. It was a hobby that has later turned into passion. I have enrolled myself in the training and orientation programme. It would be immensely useful for learners like me," said D. Nanda Kishore, an amateur theatre artiste from Paradip.

The programme, being held at the port trust's Jayadev Sadan auditorium, will continue till May.