Nagpur: The state government’s decision and rules for allowing re-opening of theatres and auditoriums have led to theatre organizers putting off performances for the near future.
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday released its orders for the city auditoriums. Additional municipal commissioner Ram Joshi’s order allows theatrical events in closed auditoriums as well as open theatres if they follow the Standard Operational Process (SOP) decided by the state government.
Theatre organizes in city have raised some issues regarding the SOP. “As per the SOP, theatrical events will be organized on 50% occupancy. Then, would the government reduce theatre rent by 50%?” asked Sameer Pandit, well-known theatre organizer in city.
“For a three-hour slot, we have to pay more than Rs30,000, which is just impossible to recover in present Covid-19 conditions, where we are not sure about public response. So, we have decided to wait and watch, and not to hold any event for a few more days,” Pandit added.
As per the government SOPs, theatres will run on 50% occupancy, audiences won’t be allowed to carry food items with them, and organizers will be responsible to ensure sanitization of theatre.
“More than 80% theatres in the state are managed through government authorities like municipal corporations. Why doesn’t the government itself takes responsibility to sanitize the halls?” said Prasad Kambli, president of Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad.
Santosh Kanekar, president of Natya Nirmata Sangh, apex body of state theatre producers, said that a model SOP was submitted to the state government but it was ignored. “In Mumbai, theatres are allowed to reopen from November 5. Till date, not a single theatrical performance was held. We are hopeful about revised SOPs,” he said.
As far as Nagpur is concerned, two preferred theatres destinations — Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall and Suresh Bhat Auditoriums — are owned and maintained by NMC itself. There are four other venues in city where shows are organized, but they are maintained by private trusts or groups.