Skip links

Skip to Content
play

Live

Navigation menu

  • News
    • Middle East
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • US & Canada
    • Latin America
    • Europe
    • Asia Pacific
  • Ukraine war
  • Features
  • Economy
  • Opinion
  • Video
    • Coronavirus
    • Climate Crisis
    • Investigations
    • Interactives
    • In Pictures
    • Science & Technology
    • Sports
    • Podcasts
play

Live

In Pictures

Gallery|Arts and Culture

Photos: COVID-hit travelling theatre returns in India’s Assam

Seven roving theatre companies are back on stage, playing before crowds across the northeastern state after a pandemic pause.

Actors of Awahan mobile theater group perform at Xetali village east of Guwahati
Actors of Awahan mobile theatre group perform in Xetali village east of the main city of Guwahati. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
Published On 18 Apr 202218 Apr 2022
facebooktwitterwhatsapp

Travelling theatre groups in India’s northeastern state of Assam are reviving the local art and culture scene after the COVID-19 pandemic forced a pause in their performances for nearly two years.

Seven roving theatre companies are back on stage playing before crowds in villages, towns and cities across the state. These mobile theatres are among the most popular forms of local entertainment.

“The public response has been very good. They love live performances. We have no competition from television and the digital boom,” said Prastuti Parashar, a top Assamese actress who owns the Awahan Theatre group.

Before the coronavirus hit the region, about 50 theatre groups, each involving 120 to 150 people, performed throughout the state. They would start in September, coinciding with major Hindu festivals such as Durga Puja and Diwali, and continue until April.

The Awahan Theatre is among the groups that have resumed performances. It ended its season last week with the advent of the traditional new year.

Drama is an integral part of Indian culture and the mobile theatre groups do not restrict themselves to mythological and social themes. They have in the past covered classic Greek tragedies, Shakespearean tales and historical subjects like the sinking of the Titanic, Lady Diana and the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001.

The groups travel with directors, actors, dancers, singers, technicians, drivers and cooks, in addition to all the stage infrastructure to perform three shows in one place before moving on to the next makeshift venue. The performances feature many of the state’s top actors, including Bhabesh Baruah, Tapan Das, Mridul Bhuyan and Pranjana Dutta.

During the pandemic-related pause in live theatre, some artists and musicians tried their luck in television or digital content, two industries that have depressed the market for movies in Assam.

Stage workers wait to prepare a set for a performance of Awahan traveling theater at Xetali village east of Gauhati,
Stage workers wait to prepare a set for a performance of Awahan travelling theatre. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
Advertisement
Prastuti Parashar, owner and lead actor of Awahan theater, prepares for a performance at Xetali village
Prastuti Parashar, owner and lead actor of Awahan group, prepares for a performance. 'The public response has been very good. They love live performances. We have no competition from television and the digital boom,' said Parashar. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
Workers of Awahan Theater unload material to build a makeshift stage and tent at
Workers of Awahan Theatre unload material to build a makeshift stage and tent. The groups travel with directors, actors, dancers, singers, technicians, drivers and cooks, in addition to all the stage infrastructure, to perform three shows in one place before moving on to the next makeshift venue. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
A volunteer arranges chairs inside a tent for a performance by Awahan Theater at Xetali village
A volunteer arranges chairs inside a tent for a performance. These mobile theatres are among the most popular forms of entertainment in Assam. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
An actor of Awahan theater prepares for his role at Xetali village
An actor of Awahan Theatre group prepares for his performance. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
People buy tickets for a performance by Awahan traveling theater at Xetali,
People buy tickets for a performance in Xetali. The Awahan Theatre ended its season last week with the advent of the traditional new year. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
Advertisement
Musicians perform for the Awahan traveling theater at Xetali village
Musicians perform for Awahan travelling theatre in Xetali village. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
Actors of Awahan theater perform in a dance drama at Xetali village
Actors perform in a dance drama. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]
People leave after a performance by Awahan traveling theater
People leave after a performance by Awahan travelling theatre in Xetali village. [Anupam Nath/AP Photo]


    • About Us
    • Code of Ethics
    • Terms and Conditions
    • EU/EEA Regulatory Notice
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Cookie Preferences
    • Sitemap
    • Community Guidelines
    • Work for us
    • HR Quality
    • Contact Us
    • Advertise with us
    • Apps
    • Channel Finder
    • TV Schedule
    • Podcasts
    • Submit a Tip
    • Al Jazeera Arabic
    • Al Jazeera English
    • Al Jazeera Investigative Unit
    • Al Jazeera Mubasher
    • Al Jazeera Documentary
    • Al Jazeera Balkans
    • AJ+
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Studies
    • Al Jazeera Media Institute
    • Learn Arabic
    • Al Jazeera Centre for Public Liberties & Human Rights
    • Al Jazeera Forum
    • Al Jazeera Hotel Partners

Follow Al Jazeera English:

  • rss
  • instagram-colored-outline
  • youtube
  • twitter
  • facebook
Al Jazeera Media Network logo
© 2022 Al Jazeera Media Network