The introduction of the New Education Policy (NEP) in educational institutions across Goa will see a sea change in the education system, which includes teaching and learning. And, this was the subject of a tiatr, too.
World Theatre Day was recently celebrated by staging a Konkani play Sopon Sot which incorporated elements from traditional theatre forms, popular in Goa.
Sopon Sot, a Konkani play, scripted by Antara Bhide, directed by Dr Shaish Deshpande, presented by Abhivyaktee, and produced by Sunapranta Goa Centre for the Arts, Panjim, threw light on the (NEP) which will be implemented shortly in schools and colleges so as to get young minds thinking in a totally different direction.
ABOUT THE TIATR
The Konkani play, Sopon Sot, is dedicated to all those creative children, who while being educated, dare to dream big in their lives.
The story revolves around Mr and Mrs Pereira (Mohan Chandekar and Genevieve Rodrigues) and their only yound son, Robert (Malcon Pereira/Abhishek Dhawaskar).
Robert is undoubtedly blessed with multiple talents such as scripting poems, music and songs, and he dreams of using those talents.
While Robert’ mother is down-to-earth in nature, his strict father wishes that his son should be totally a bookworm, concentrating entirely on formal education, and should one day become a naval officer as per his expectations and dreams.
Robert’s teachers, Rosy (Ishana Quadros) and Sapna (Krupa Vaze), try their best to motivate and encourage him.
For the annual day, Robert’s friends coax him to script a play with songs. But, fear of failing his exams turns him off completely, to the extent that he gives up on everything, and ends up going through a nervous breakdown.
Now, will Robert be able to grow mentally, physically under the pressure of his strict and dictatorial father? Who is it who comes forward to guide Robert in a different direction?
Will the new plan work out in favour of Robert so that he achieves success in life?
BEHIND THE SCENES
In Sopon Sot, there are two imaginary characters – Goyo (Chaitanya Naik) and Doyo (Vighnesh Prabhu) – who accompany Robert, and give him the required boost every time he feels down and out. They encourage the protagonist to dream big and be creative in life.
Apart from the playback singers, all the artistes on stage, young and the old, have given fine performances in theatrical skills and renditions.
And, in order to create awareness about NEP, more shows of this play in educational institutions will definitely be a big boost to students.
Sopon Sot highlights the need for holistic development of every child, while receiving training in schools. And, that is possible only when education is inclusive of the creativity of children.
While formal education is largely stressful to students, creativity and innovation are equally important for the overall growth of young minds, but receive little attention.
And, success in life can be achieved when there is a balance between talent, academics and career with all receiving their fair share of attention.
Deshpande has tried to incorporate elements from two of the most popular traditional theatre forms in Goa, namely zomnivhele khell and sangeet natak.
Throwing light on the script of the play, Antara Bhide said, “Our compulsive need to put things in boxes and keep them that way has hampered our own growth for centuries.”
“We insist on keeping the sciences away from the humanities, the math away from the art, while in fact, they are inter-woven and connected,” she added.
The director of the play, Dr Saish Deshpande, stated that the subject of Sopon Sot is very close to his heart, and reflects the sentiment of every child dreaming to nurture the artist in them.
“Music and drama have long been the inherent components of Indian theatre, and our region of Goa is no exception,” he added.
Deshpande has tried to incorporate elements from two of the most popular traditional theatre forms in Goa, namely zomnivhele khell and sangeet natak, and has designed the presentation in the format of a sangeet-khell (musical drama).
“Education (formal as well as informal) is meant to aid children to learn and encourage them to think about what they learn,” he continued, “all our performing art forms serve as necessary tools to impart education. And, our NEP too is in the process of implementing them.”