Bhubaneswar, Feb. 22: The Odisha Sangeet Natak Akademi has lined up an array of festivals and workshops in various districts in an attempt to promote theatre in the rural areas of the state.

The cultural institution will host workshops in Dhenkanal and Koraput in March in order to endorse talents from the grassroots level.

"We will select young theatre enthusiasts from the block and district levels at these places through competitions. The best of the lot will take part in the workshops," said akademi secretary Dhira Mallick.

Senior theatre artistes and film-makers, who will impart scriptwriting and acting skills in the young theatre lovers, will conduct the workshops.

"Theatre in our state has become limited to only a few cities. We will now regularly organise theatre fests in various rural districts and invite the local groups to perform," said Mallick.

The department is also going to organise an Odia Natya Samaroh at Jagdalpur in Chattisgarh where rural groups from the state will perform from March 28 to April 1. as well with a number of festivals being hosted one after another. Just as the 17th edition of the Kalinga Natya Mahotsav, focusing on the works of prominent playwright Pranabandhu Kar concluded last week, with the Manana Natya's Sansthan holding its five-day event from February 23.

On the World Theatre Day, March 27, the Akademi has planned a daylong programme at Rabindra Mandap in the city. A seminar on the scenario of Odia theatre on the international arena will be conducted.

"We are planning to invite theatre doyen Ratan Thiyam to perform with his troupe in the evening. It will give the young theatre artistes of the state an opportunity to interact with him," said theatre activist Subodh Patnaik, who is facilitating the process.