Bhubaneswar, Aug. 5: A theatre troupe is conducting a workshop to offer art lovers an opportunity to learn the nuances of acting here.

Ranga Bharati, the annual workshop of the Uttar Purusha theatre troupe, is under way at the Secretariat Recreation Club and has attracted enthusiasts from different walks of life - who wish to groom their acting skills.

From engineers to businessmen and BCA graduates, people from a wide variety of backgrounds and age groups have signed up for the workshop. While for some, acting is a passion that they could not pursue earlier and the workshop offers them the chance to finally give it a go, for the others, it is a new experience altogether.

"I struggled to convince my family to allow me to pursue acting. I wanted to take it up professionally, but pressure from my parents compelled me to join the BCA. Every evening, I become a full-fledged artiste here. I will definitely join a theatre troupe and try to balance between my academics and my passion," said Biplab Jyoti Parida, a young participant.

Paramananda Panda, 39, pursued acting for seven years during his days at the Delhi University. The workshop provides him the chance to brush up his skills and delve into his passion again.

Engineering student Sushree Mohapatra heard about the workshop from other friends and is trying her hand at the art. "I am fond of the art, and this workshop is helping me understand acting, stage craft and music and dance. I can put these skills to use at my college fests," said Mohapatra.

Introducing beginners to various emotions and expressions that form the core of theatre acting, Srinivas, an assistant professor at Utkal University of Culture and one of the resource persons at the workshop, grooms the participants. Workshop director Choudhary Jaypraksh Das, film-maker Kapilas Bhuyan and play director Abhinna Routray are introducing the participants to the idiosyncrasies of acting.

Srinivas said: "Theatre workshops should be conducted more often and by more groups, so that the systematic and scientific methodology of acting reaches more people."

The workshop, which began on July 26, will conclude on August 16 with a play by the participants.