*Press Release * *26th September 2016*
*125th Anniversary of Goan Tiatr* The most popular dramatic form of Goa – Tiatr – completes 125 years in April 2017. In order to celebrate 125 years of tiatr in a befitting manner, government of Goa has constituted a committee *– 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations Committee* – under the Chairmanship of Tomazinho Cardozo. The following members constitute the committee: *125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations Committee* 1. Tomazinho Cardozo Chairman 2. Agostinho Temudo Vice-Chairman 3. Premanand Lotlikar Vice Chairman 4. Roseferns Vice-Chairman 5. Prince Jacob Vice Cahirman 6. William Fernandes Member 7. Joe Rose “ 8. Agnelo de Borim “ 9. Domingos Coelho “ 10. Cezar D’Mello “ 11. Fatima D’Souza “ 12. Michael Gracias “ 13. Joaquina Joana Fernandes “ 14. Fr. Eusebio Gomes “ 15. Jessie Dias “ 16. Carlos Fernandes Membedr Secretary This Committee will function in co-ordination with Department of Art & Culture as well as with Tiatr Academy of Goa. *Inaugural Ceremony* The inaugural Ceremony of the celebrations will be held on *Saturday, 1st October, 2016 at 4.00 p.m at the JAF Auditorium, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.* Honourable Chiel Minister Laxmikant Parsekar will inaugurate the yearlong celebrations while Dayanand Mandrekar, Minister for Art & Culture will be the Chief Guest and Avertano Furtado, Minister for Fisheries will preside over the function. Digambar Kamat, Hon. MLA of Margao, Vijay Sardesai, Hon. MLA of Fatorda and Damu Naik, Chairman of Ravindra Bhavan will be the Guests of Honour. Secretary for Art & Culture, Daulat Hawaldar and Director of Art & Culture Department, Prasad Lolayekar will also grace the occasion as special invitees. *Programmes to be organized during yearlong celebrations* The 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations Committee has resolved to organize numerous tiatr-related activities throughout Goa. Some of the important programmes are as under: 1. Inaugural function on 1st October 2016 at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao and felicitation of veteran tiatr artistes 2. On the occasion of birth anniversary of Joao Agostinho Fernandes – Father of Tiatr - a two days programme on 14th and 15th December, 2016 at Ravindra Bhavan including the exhibition of the works of tiatr artistes. 3. Concluding function on 17th April 2017 at Kala Academy Panjim on the occasion of birth anniversary of pioneer of Tiatr – Lucasinho Ribeiro. On this occasion the history of tiatr will be presented through performance and felicitation of prominent tiatr personalities 4. Organization of one day Tiatr Sammelan 5. Publication of a commemorative volume documenting the history of tiatr in brief and life history of 125 tiatr artistes 6. Promotion of Tiatr in other states of India such as Delhi, Kolkata, Banglore, etc with co-operation from North, South, East & West Zones Cultural Centres. . 7. Production of a documentary on tiatr depicting the past and present history of tiatr. 8. Organization of special programmes in all Talukas of Goa and felicitations of Tiatr artistes from each Taluka. 9. Lectures to the tiatr artistes by inviting eminent theatre personalities from other languages. 10. Organization of Festival of tiatrs by producing old classic tiatrs. 11. Release of Postal stamp and special envelop through Postal Department. 12. Organization of Tiatr script writing and Kantaram lyrics writing competitions at the state level 13. Publication of 4 volumes documenting the following: (i) Selected scripts of tiatrs written by artistes of yesteryears, (ii) Selected scripts of tiatrs written by present day commercial artistes, (iii) Selected scripts of tiatrs written by present day non-commercial tiatrs artistes and (iv) Selected lyrics with music of 125 songs (kantaram) 14. Interview of prominent Tiatr artistes/panel discussions on tiatr on local TV chanels 15. Launching of the Web site of 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations. 16. 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebration Committee to request Panchayats, Municipalities and Government to remember veteran tiatr artists from that area by naming roads or any other asset of the Panchayat, Municipality, Government. 17. To organize a Tiatr related Float during the Carnaval in order to popularise 125th Anniversary of Tiatr 18. To request the Department of education to give marks to students excelling in tiatr activities as in the case of sports. 19. Production of Model Tiatrs 20. ‘An evening with veteran tiatr artistes’ in which their experiences will be video-recorded and kept for posterity. These activities will be organized in different parts of Goa throughout the year. *Brief history of Tiatr* The Goan Tiatr was in fact born in Bombay at the end of the 18th century when the 1st Tiatr entitled *Italian* *Bhurgo* was staged on 17th April,1892 at Alfred Theatres,Bombay.This Tiatr was written and directed by Lucasinho Ribeiro, a son of Assagao, Bardez,Goa,who had migrated to Bombay in search of a job.He was assisted in this effort by yet another towering personality of Tiatr stage, Mr.Joao Agostinho Fernandes, who was rightly called " Father of Tiatr". The word ‘Tiatr’ is derived from the Portuguese word *Teatro* which means *Theatre* in English. Hence in the early stages of Tiatr, the artiste having knowledge of Portuguese wrote it as *Teatro* while others, particularly in Bombay, being familiar with English, wrote it as *Theatre. *However in 1974, when Kala Akademy started Tiatr Festivals and the participating amateur artistes, who were a part of the Konkani language movement, Konkanized the writing of *Teatro *as *Tiatr.* After the success of the first tiatr ‘Italian Bhurgo’ Lucasinho Ribeiro translated some more world classics such as Alladin, Ali Baba and Carlos Magno and staged them as Tiatrs. Sebastiao Gabriel D’Souza popularly known as ‘Karachiwala’ translated ‘Merchant of Venice’, ‘As You Like It’, ‘Hamlet’ and ‘Winter’s Tale’ and staged in the Tiatr format. Joao Lazarus D’Souza adapted and staged ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in the same manner. Adaptations of European dramas continued for almost a decade. However Joao Agostinho Fernandes was the first writer to write original scripts of Tiatrs on themes highlighting injustices in the Goan society e.g. caste system, dowry harassment, alcoholism, dignity of labour, etc. Although Joao Agostinho eventually became known as *Pai Tiatrist*---the Father of Tiatr---in 1943, on the occasion of Golden Jubilee celebrations of Tiatr, he displayed his own greatness by publicly recognizing the pioneering work done by his former partner. “Undoubtedly the credit as regards tiatr goes to the late Mr. Lucazinho Ribeiro,” he wrote. “I bow my head to Mr. Ribeiro, who was my teacher in theatrical work; I still walk in his footsteps, continuing to present tiatrs of good value to my fellow countrymen.” In its 125 years of existence, Tiatr has faced a lot of challenges for its survival. It had to withstand many disastrous situations. It never had any backing of any Governments during the dictatorial regime or in the present democratic set up, except the organization of annual Tiatr Festivals by Kala Akademy since 1974. It could survive only because of the patronage and love shown towards it by the Goan people. It was only in 2009 that the Goa government established Tiatr Academy of Goa and fully involved itself in the preservation, development and promotion of tiatr in a big way. *Tomazinho Cardozo* Chairman 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations Committee
