Bhubaneswar, May 19: Natya Chetana, a city-based theatre group, in collaboration with Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre is hosting a subject-oriented workshop to deal with the lack of professional technicians in Odia theatre.

The workshop, being hosted at the Natyagram theatre village, began on May 17 and will conclude on May 30. Experts are conducting workshops on three aspects of theatre - narration, visual design and choreography.

"Most workshops in the state are production-oriented and generally benefit actors. But, there are other elements to theatre and several youngsters take interest in its technical part. This workshop will benefit them," said Natya Chetana founder and theatre activist Subodh Patnaik.

Pranjal Saikia of Assam is hosting sessions on narration, while those on visual design and choreography are being hosted by Manipur's Jadumani Singh and Delhi-based Sashadhar Acharya respectively.

"The state's technicians lack specified expertise. In other eastern states, such as Bengal and Bihar, there are professionals for various aspects of theatre," Patnaik said.

Around 30 theatre enthusiasts are taking part in the workshop. They will implement the skills acquired here in a production by Patnaik, Nua Thikana.

Apart from theatre enthusiasts from the state, participants from Jharkhand and Bengal have also joined the workshop.