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

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.