Sri Vijaya Puram, June 25: A month-long theatre workshop being organised by the Directorate of Arts & Culture, A&N Administration, in collaboration with the National School of Drama, New Delhi got underway at Andaman Club today. The Secretary, Art & Culture, Ms Jyoti Kumari, IAS inaugurated the theatre workshop as the chief guest in the presence of the Director, Art & Culture, Ms. Priyanka Kumari, Shri Surender Sharma, Workshop Director and Assistant Director, Shri Avinash B. Rao Deshpande, from National School of Drama, New Delhi and a good number of participants.
In her inaugural address, the Secretary, Art & Culture expressed her happiness for the conduct of the month-long theatre workshop, aiming to provide participants an extensive exposure to various aspects of theatre. She said that the one-month programme would go beyond a brief introduction to theatre and provide participants with deeper insights into the art form.
The Secretary further highlighted that theatre is a powerful medium that reflects society, contemporary realities and human emotions in a sensitive manner. “Theatre not only portrays the world around us but also enables an individual to understand different perspectives and develop empathy,” she said.
Speaking about the cultural richness of the A&N Islands, the Secretary said the Islands possess a strong tradition of art, dance, music and creativity and expressed confidence that the workshop would provide a platform for participants to showcase local stories and experiences through theatre, adding that no one can represent the local essence better than those who live it.
In her address, the Director, Arts & Culture, Ms. Priyanka Kumari, thanked the resource persons from NSD for coming all the way from mainland to conduct this workshop and said this workshop will provide the nuances of theatre among the participants.
Shri Surender Sharma, Workshop Director, NSD gave an overview of the workshop and highlighted the multidisciplinary nature of theatre. He said that the art form brings together various elements including dialogue delivery, stage presence, music and dance. He encouraged participants to make full use of the opportunity, describing theatre as a challenging yet deeply enriching journey requiring dedication, emotional involvement and continuous learning.
This workshop being held from June 25 to July 24, 2026 marks a significant step in nurturing theatre culture in the Islands, offering participants a rare opportunity to learn from eminent faculty of India’s premier Theatre Institution.
Those who are interested in participating in this month-long theatre workshop may walk into the Andaman Club tomorrow (June 26) at 2.45 pm and avail the opportunity to get enrolled in the workshop on the spot. The workshop will be held every day from 2.45 pm to 7pm. The workshop will conclude with a drama to be staged on July 24 showcasing the skills and learning acquired by the participants during the month-long programme.
The inaugural function concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by the Assistant Director, Art & Culture, Ms. Kanak Radha Chatterjee.