(Top) Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya in Bhubaneswar. (Below) Dramatists perform a play. Telegraph pictures

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 3: People long associated with theatre in the capital have been ruing the lack of encouragement that stage shows get these days from audiences.

They attribute the sad state of affairs to the lack of proper syllabus or faculty in the institutes that produce theatre artistes, playwrights, directors and stage designers.

The courses in most institutes include all aspects of theatre clubbed together with no specialisation as such. National School of Drama (NSD) offers a three-year course, that too for graduates, Utkal Sangeet Mahavidyalaya (USM) offers a seven-year course in drama that includes the equivalent of Plus two, under-graduation and post-graduation together. So, Class X pass-outs opt for the course.

“We do not have separate specialisations or branches but have different papers in the course on theatre literature, acting, direction and stage craft. Some of our former students teach the papers as guest faculty since we don’t have permanent teachers,” said Nabin Parida, principal, USM.

“Ever since the drama course began at the USM, teachers, permanent or otherwise, were busy with their own careers in films and television. This led to skipping of classes that continued till they retired. Now, the institute does not even have permanent staff. Then why should a student spend seven years at the institute?” asked veteran theatre personality and NSD alumnus Surya Mohanty.

“There are no institutes that even have a syllabus that lists western drama, classical Indian drama, modern Indian drama, and the different aspects of direction, designing and acting as a part of the course,” he added.

Sadly, the faculty teaching the nuances of stage designing or acting, themselves have no specialisation in the corresponding subjects and hardly any experience on stage.

“I was surprised to see that there are no proper workshops or lectures on yoga, music or dance for the acting classes. In fact, there are not even enough drawing boards for stage designing practice,” said a student of USM on condition of anonymity.

While USM offers 40 seats in drama department in Plus Two and 24 in Plus Three, Sambalpur University, too, has come up with a master’s degree in drama for any graduate. It has 16 seats and offers specialisation in folk theatre of western Orissa, acting, direction, theatre design and techniques and playwriting.

A number of private institutes have also started offering courses in acting. However, they charge a hefty fee and have no experienced permanent or visiting faculties.

“Without proper workshops by national and international theatre personalities and with no proper coaching, the future of theatre is indeed in danger,” said Mohanty.