THANE: The Thane municipal corporation on Tuesday, announced slashing rents for its two auditorium by a massive 75 per cent for all Marathi, English and regional plays staged here till the fiscal end.
This is a first of its kind sop offered post Covid for the revival of theatre industry in the state.
According to Mayor Naresh Mhaske, all the slots hired by theatre producers to stage drama shows, except those booked by private parties or clubs or any other event, will get a subsidy wherein the company will have to pay only 25 % of the rent. However, the power bills and the relevant taxes will be charged at actuals, informed an official.
The move, said Mhaske, is to help the theatre industry that has faced one of the biggest setbacks when they were asked to stop staging plays ahead of the lockdown in mid-March. The industry people including artisans and back stage workers have been hit the hardest following which a theatre group requested the corporation for some relief.
"We are the first corporation in the state to have announced this relief for the theatre sector which we feel will not just help bring the audience back to the galleries but will also indirectly help the industry to come back on its feet," said Mhaske.
The rebate, explain officials, will be for shows with maximum ticket rates till Rs 400 and any higher priced tickets will attract the regular rates. It may be noted the rental slabs for Thane auditoriums are based on the highest ticket prices at the facility which varies between Rs 150 to Rs 1,000 or more per ticket.
Marathi TV and theatre actor-producer Subodh Bhave has welcomed the initiative but sought some clarification.