TIATRO & TIATRISTS.
One of the major activities of huge Goan community in particular and vast
Konkani community in general in Kuwait is Konkani Drama known in Goan circle
as "Tiatro" which means in Portuguese Drama. Tiatro came into existence
in 1892 when first time it was performed in Bombay on 17th April 1892 under
the title Italian Burgo. (Italian Boy). It was written and staged by
Lucasinho Ribeiro on the pattern of Italian Opera. Lucasinho Ribeiro was
working for Italian Opera Troupe in Bombay as a backstage support. Since
then Tiatro is become a part of Goan cultural life, mainly of Christians. A
Tiatro consists of seven parts and in between two parts some songs are
introduced namely solos, duets, trios and quartets which have no connection
with the main story. One important habit of Goans whenever they migrate to
other places in the world in search of greener pastures is to carry with
them this beautiful art of entertainment. Thru this art Goan dramatists
have done lot of changes in Goan society.
Goans first time started coming to Kuwait soon after the Second World War
for employment in Ahmadi at KOC Oil Center with Portuguese Passports as Goa
was Portuguese colony. In mid fifties the number of Goans and other Konkani
speaking people swelled thereby making some talented artistic minded Goans
to stage their dramas in Kuwait. The first Konkani Tiatro was staged in
Ahmadi, Naklistan Club venue was one of the main Centers for staging Goan
dramas then besides at Hubara Club Center too. Some of those Goans were so
talented that they not only have staged their own Konkani dramas but also
translated Shakespeareans and staged at Ahmadi in front of British
audience. Later on Kuwait City became the hub of Goan activities and
staging of Goan dramas shifted to Keefan Hall and Kuwait City Church Hall.
One of the pioneers who promoted Konkani Tiatros in Kuwait was late Tony
Call who died recently in Bombay after retiring from Kuwait with 40 years of
service. Tony Call was the first Goan and first Konkani stage artiste to
perform at Kuwait TV not only in Konkani programme but also in Arabic serial
too.
From fifties to mid seventies Goan dramas in Kuwait were organized once or
twice a year but from late seventies the situation was changed a great deal
and more and more dramas were held annually with the strong patronage of the
audience. This change happened not only because of large influx of Goans
coming to Kuwait but also because of the arrival in Kuwait of some of the
highly talented professional artistes from Goa and Bombay namely Carmo Rod,
Mendes Bros, F. X. Pereira and H. Briton. The first visiting dramatists to
Kuwait were a duet of husband and wife namely the late melodious singer
Alfred Rose and Rita in 1975 when they staged their two dramas at Church
Hall, in Kuwait City. But the actual turning point came after the invasion
and liberation of Kuwait when not only the number of Goans in Kuwait
increased but also the number of Konkani Stage artistes increased
tremendously. Due to this dramatic troupes from Goa started coming to
Kuwait to perform their dramas very regularly and without any exception all
well known troupes came to Kuwait to stage their dramas successfully.
Moreover all the popular artistes from Goa and Bombay visited Kuwait
individually to take part in the dramas staged by the local talents. By
inducting the visiting artistes the quality of local dramas increased a lot.
It is an undeniable fact that the visiting dramatists by coming to Kuwait
are enhancing their finance, getting lot of publicity in the local media
which is a rarity and very expensive back home in Goa and also they are
getting lot of benefits. The biggest beneficiaries of the liberation of
Kuwait are the visiting artistes but regretfully while Kuwait was under the
occupation of Iraq none of the visiting artistes raised his or her voice in
support of the liberation of Kuwait. Sadly none of the visiting artistes
joined and supported the movement Kuwait Goan Evacuees organized in Goa
under Goa-Kuwait Solidarity Center in condemnation of Iraqi invasion and
in support of the liberation of Kuwait. At that time there were as they are
now top troupes in Goa of top artistes namely of Rose Ferns, Prince Jacob,
Menino de Bandar, Pascoal Rodrigues and of others but none of them supported
Kuwaiti cause openly during the invasion period. Even those top artistes who
came to Kuwait for employment after the liberation of Kuwait were guilty of
denying their support to Kuwait during the dark period of Kuwait though they
were popular stage artistes in Goa at that time. Why they only, even the
overwhelming majority of the local artistes who were in Kuwait during the
invasion of Kuwait were worst guilty for not taking active part in the
movement organized in Goa in support of Kuwait. All these dramatists want
Kuwait only to gain benefits from Kuwait but not to support Kuwait when
Kuwait needed it. Ingratitude is your hallmark oh my compatriots and because
of your ingratitude I am ashamed of you. Take another instance of
ingratitude of visiting artistes. Due to their regular visits to Kuwait to
participate in dramas they are become like relatives of Kuwait. But when
the late Amir of Kuwait died none of these visiting artistes organized a
condolence meeting in Goa to mourn the death of late Amir nor a simple press
release was issued. What an ingratitude it is!!
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
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