Rourkela: Artistes and teams from Assam, Nagaland and Manipur staged many interesting plays at Rasahtriya Poorvottar Natya Samaroha which concluded at Civic Centre here on Friday. The theatre festival began on May 28. It was organised by National School of Drama in collaboration with Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP).

In all, five plays of north-eastern states were staged. "I never had such theatrical experience in my life," said veteran stage artiste Sadananda Giri.

Another theatre Bhaskara Mohapatra said: "We have many things to learn from these troupes who are experimenting in theatre production, scripting, lighting and stage craft."

Retired expert of the school of drama B. Singh came up with path-breaking use of simple techniques in stage craft.

Actor and a stage craft specialist Uma Bisoi said the experience was exhilarating.

"Singh taught me to create visual magic just by using a stool. I was keen learn a few techniques from him," Bisoi said.

The teams had no makeup artistes. The actors were well trained to do so. Bisoi said: "We need to learn a few makeup techniques from them."

The lighting arrangements were done from different corners of the theatre and were not just fixed on the stage. The lighting technicians would sit in the audience and control it using a remote.