A still from the play Lal Pain, for which Shyama Sundar Pandey (inset) designed the stage. Telegraph picture

Balangir, May 23: He is a veterinary doctor by profession, but theatre is his passion.

However, what makes Dr Shyama Sundar Pandey of Kantabanjhi different from other theatre personalities is that while they are known for their acting, directing or writing skills, Pandey has carved a niche for himself in stagecraft designing, a field that includes the technical aspects of theatre such as constructing scenery, hanging and focusing of lighting, design and procurement of costumes, procurement of props and stage management.

Pandey says it was his stint at the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT) in Bhubaneswar as a student that provided him the opportunity to meet Subodh Pattnaik of Natya Chetana.

“As a student at the OUAT, I took part in several plays as actor.

“It was when I came in contact with Subodh Pattnaik of Nayta Chetna that I developed interest in stagecraft. Subodh babu used to use the stage in an innovative way quite different from other theatre groups that inspired me a lot. My association with him provided me a strong platform to take up stagecraft,” Pandey said. Thereafter, there was no looking back for Pandey. Till now, he has designed the stage for at least 50 plays and has won accolades for his innovative efforts. The stagecraft of Lal Pain, a Koshali play that was staged at the Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar some time ago, is a case in point. What is special about the stagecraft of Pandey is that he gives emphasis to nature. In fact, nature comes alive on stage as Pandey exploits its many aspects.

“Most of the plays in which I work are about the vagaries of the nature. To show the different aspects of nature, I depend on the produces that we obtain from the nature and use them in the stage. I use indigenous materials, which are found around us.

“I mostly use bamboo and other materials such as waste clothes and even garbage to design the stage. I don’t have to purchase anything for the stage,” he said.

His stagecraft in the play Lal Pain, which tells of the pathos of the displaced people of the Hirakud Dam, was widely appreciated by the public as well as critics.

Noted theatre personality Sanyasi Satapathy is all praise for Pandey.

“He is the kind of stagecraft designer who pulls nature to the stage with locally available natural resources. I always look forward to seeing plays where Pandey is the stage designer,” he said.

For his contribution to theatre, Pandey has won several awards including jury awards for best actor and director at the International Theatre Olympiad held in Cuttack in 2000.