Events
Prachyo Samman
‘Prachyo Somman’ is a prestigious award ceremony held by Prachyo Theatre group annually. Actor Biplab Bandopadhyay’s true love lies on stage, and his passion for theatre is an inspiration for ‘Prachyo Somman’.
Over the years, Prachyo Theatre group has been brimming with passionate theatre-enthusiasts, who have been part of some of the great plays that the city of joy has seen.
Every year, Prachyo Theatre acknowledges the work and dedication of people, who share the same love for theatre, through their yearly event ‘Prachyo Somman’. It is through these little acts of sheer hard work that Prachyo Theatre hopes to encourage all those whose passion lies in theatre and wishes to showcase their talent.
2013
Shri Rudraprasad Sengupta
Presented by Shri Biplab Bandhopadhyay
2014
Shri Samir Majumdar
Presented by Shri Bimal Roy
2015
Shri Chapal Bhaduri
Presented by Shri Biplab Bandhopadhyay
2017
Shri Ashok Mukhopadhyay
Presented by Shri Joy Goswami
2018
Shri Bratya Basu
Presented by Shri Kaushik Sen
2020
Shri Probir Guha
Presented by Shri Bibhash Chakraborty
Robbikeler Farash
Prachyo is pleased to inform you that we have changed our rehearsal room from Nov.’19. Now we have shifted all our activities to our new “MAHALA GHAR” for 24×7 at 2nd. floor of Calcutta Youth Choir Building (opposite to dhaka kalibari) on Prince Anwar Shah Road. We have designed our daily group activities in a different way under the versatile leadership of our Captain.
Among our daily group activities for the whole week, we have spotted Sunday as extensive rehearsal day, followed by a refreshing addar ashor, naming “ROBBIKELER FARASH” and it was already been started by the gracious presence of some eminent drama personalities. They talked with us, shared their experiences, they read their scripts, followed by threadbare discussion, which is always being an asset to us.
So, we welcome our fellow colleagues of theatre fraternity to join us at “ROBBIKELER FARASH”.
Guests on Farash
Event date: 24-11-2019
Guest : Shubhashis Gangopadhyay. Drama: Kagojer Bagh and Ondhokarer Nodi. Playwright : Shubhashis Gangopadhyay
Event date: 30-11-2019
Guest : Angshuman Bhowmik. Drama : Natok Banchal. Main Script : Tamasha Na Hua Translator : Angshuman Bhowmik.
Event date: 15-03-2020
Guest : Supriyo Dutta. Drama : Barricade Playwright : Utpal Dutta
Event date: 14-03-2021
Guest : Kaberi Bose. Drama : Quarantine Main Script : A view from the Bridge (Arthur Miller). Playwright : Kaberi Bose.
Prachyo Foundation Day Celebration
Prachyo organized a seminar on the occasion of it’s ninth birthday titled – “ IN PRESENT CONTEXT ALTERNATIVE THEATRE HAS NO LONGER BEEN AN IDEAL RATHER A MERE SUPPORT TOOL “ at Tapan Theatre on the 19th of August, 2017. The speakers were Mr. Debotosh Ghosh, Mr. Goutam Sengupta, Mr. Tirthankar Chanda, Mr. Anshuman Bhowmick and Mr. Debashish Ray. The session was moderated by Mr. Ashish Goswami. A documentary was also shown on the life of Pt. Uday Shankar – “ A Life in Dance “ directed by Dishari Chakraborty.
Tritio Onko Otoyeb, Supari Killer, Romio Julee, Caligula, Tipur Swapno, Nilima, Mrityu Iswar Jounota, Sakharam, LaalSalu and the children’s theatre- Alor Chamok, Debotar Grash, Putuler Deshe, Lakhhoner Shaktishel, the intimate version namely Bhul Swargo, Duti Golp, Muhabbot La Paydaish, Je Phirte Parenj, Moron Bhomra- appreciation, controversy, the dictum of the State-what not? But at the end of the day ‘A Recognition’, long waited huge applause and ultimately a faith on our work and an acceptance. You always remain a solid supportive hand of Prachyo, in our hay days as well as in distress. We have succeeded to establish ourselves as a renowned theatre group in this famous and veteran city only because of your help and assistance. You have never been taken away your hand from our shoulders, rather, you always encourage us with all your positivity to move forward. We have travelled ten long years of our creative journey keeping our faith on your reliance which you always showered upon us. So, on the occasion of our ten years completion ceremony on 19th instant, we wish to have your prized participation among us once again. The schedule of events for that day is as follows- a) Children’s theatre – Putuler Deshe at 11AM, b) Ghasiram Kotwal by Chetana at 3PM, and c) Caligula at 6.30PM. The venue is Academy Of Arts. We are waiting for you to showcase our works once again and to have your support and assistance as always.
► Watch it on Facebook: https://https://www.facebook.com/prachyotheatre/videos/325941674817856/?refsrc=https%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2Fstory.phpbit.ly/3tW1FJv
19th August, 2008 PRACHYO had made his debut in Theatre Fraternity of Bengal. For the last 11 years PRACHYO had to face many constraints, but in all occasions we came out with flying colours. We started our journey with Tritiyo Onko Otoeb, acted by respected Soumitra Chattopadhyay. After that we were privileged by the participations of many stalwarts in our different productions. Our Caligula, a well acclaimed production in multiple national events, is still alive to the hearts of our audience. Similarly our current presentation KHELAGHOR has already mesmerized the full house of each show in Kolkata as well as in abroad.
Prachyo is going to celebrate prachyo’s eleven years formally on 19th August 2019. We will be all assembled at Academy of Fine Arts theatre hall at 6pm. Our program has been segmented in three phases.
1. PRACHYO SAMMAN to eminent theatre personality Sir Prabir Guha by respected Bibhas Chakraborty.
2. Drama: CONDEMNED CELL, a nonverbal production by PRACHYO. Directed by Mr. Deb Kumar Pal.
3. SONGS OF THEATRE of Sri Debasish Dasgupta, participated by Debashri Dasgupta Bandyopadhyay, Debapratim Dasgupta and Sudipta Ghosh, inaugurated again by Sir Bibhas Chakraborty with some few words about Sri Debasish Dasgupta’s work.
Prachyo’s 13th birthday comes at such a dark time for us all. The pandemic has struck a mighty blow to the entire world and theatre has suffered the most with artists and technicians all living on a tightrope. In this situation when nothing seems certain, we are yet again drawn towards each other by our shared love for theatre and to celebrate life with all its uncertainties and harsh reality. Tomorrow on the 19th of August Prachyo’s members will celebrate our 13th birthday with a series of performances on selected texts and Bengali poems written by Rabindranath Tagore, Utpal Dutt, Nabarun Bhattacharya, Mahasweta Devi.
Watch it on Facebook
Ei Samay, 29th Aug 2020
Workshops
DO RE MI……..
Yes, this tune has become the signature tune of Prachyos’ “MAHALA GHOR”(rehearsal room) at 2nd. floor of Calcutta Youth Choir Building on Prince Anwar Shah Road (opposite to dhaka kalibari).
Prachyo beleives that without musical lesson a theatre aspariant cannot be a true actor. So, Prachyo had started his “SANGITIKA”(musical class) on regular basis.
We are happy that well-known Drama Song Singer, Sri Subir Sanyal had kind enough to accept this offer for teaching us. We had already faced his inaugaral session on 2nd. March’20 at our “MAHALA GHAR” and it was fantastic.
Now, we invite all interested actors to be associated with this venture.
We conducted a workshop with eminent Sarod player, Mr. Tarun Nayek at Sujata Devi Vidyamir, Hazra. These sessions were conducted for two days, 21st April and 28th April 2019. This workshop was titled “Raag-Raginir-Pathshala”.
Prachyo’s young team underwent a series of workshops with renowned mime artist, Mr. Deb Kumar Pal. We started working with him at a rehearsal studio named Surotirtha. He worked with all the members of our team individually – movement practice, gesture, body language, posture correction, lessons of dance, mime, non –verbal communication in theatre were some of his modules. Our team then travelled with him to Jana Sankriti Centre for Theatre of the Oppressed, Badu. We built our performance in this residential workshop in Badu held in two phases – Phase 1 from June 24 – June 26, 2019 and Phase 2 from June 30 – July 1, 2019.
Shubhashish Gangopadhyay, Director of Shyambazar Blind Opera and Assistant Professor of Drama at Rabindra Bharati University conducted a series of workshops with our team – these sessions were held at Sujata Devi Vidyamandir.
Through these sessions he tried to inculcate within us the essential tools by which to construct a performance – text, speech, rhythm, movement.
His wealth of experience also helped us in enriching ourselves and becoming more aware of our instruments.
He directed a production based on this – Je Phirte Pareni.
Prachyo’s entire team underwent a series of intense workshops under the tutelage of Abanti Chakraborty. Body Acts Rasa is a training module exclusively designed for actors, performance artists and dancers. It’s intense and real. Through body and sound the actors will explore the expressions of memory, violence, terror, eroticism, embarrassment, repetition and stereotype along with elements of RASA (Emotions). Body Acts Rasa was held in two phases –
1st phase – From 7th June to 11th June, 2017 at Tepantar Theatre Village, Satkhania.
2nd phase – From 14th Septemter to 18th September at Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre (EZCC), Salt Lake.
The prevalence of different indigenous tribes is distinctly evident within the ambit of West Bengal. We are well aware of the tribal art and culture that revolves around the tradition as well as the different incidents in the daily life of these tribes. We are trying to ensure the participation of cultural activists from different corners of the society , with different geographic and demographic status , as trainees of this workshop. In the future years we aspire to execute critical analysis and rigorous practice of different other neglected tribal arts of our state (viz. ) that are lying far away from the limelight in a marginalized status. The workshop was conducted for fifteen days at Niranjan Sadan, Bijoygarh from 10-24th March by renowned Chhau artist, Ajit Mahato. He was also accompanied by traditional musicians playing Nakada, Dhamsa, Dhol and Chhau artists.
Workshop Gallery
Nabendu Sen Memorial Lecture
A seminar was held on the 24th of February 2013, at Paschim Banga Natya Akademi in memory of late Mr. Nabendu Sen. The topic of the seminar was “Natyokalay Bibhinno Shilpa Madhyamer Shomporko o Adanpradan” (The Relationship and Exchanges of Various Art Forms in Theatre ). The speakers were Suman Mukhopadhyay, Manoj Mitra and Koushik Sen. The session was moderated by Soumitra Basu.
Discovering Our Heritage - an excursion to Shantiniketan
In search of the Other Tagore
Prachyo’s members undertook a three day long educational cum theatrical journey in Santiniketan, Bolpur. Our primary aim was to discover and see various places around Santiniketan ( which is already a centre of attraction due to its connection with Tagore ) and also try and understand Rabindranath more intimately. Our first day started with a visit to the Kopai river up north, followed by a visit to Kankalitala which is one of the Shakti Peeths. We ended our day with a visit to Sonajhuri forest and it’s famous Haat. Our second day was focused on Tagore and Visva-Bharati University. We first went to Rabindra Bhavana which has extensive collections of archives related to Rabindranath and the Tagore Family. Our next stop was Uttarayana Complex which has five houses built by Tagore. We also visited Udichi. Our guru deeply reveres Tagore philosophically and his interactions with our guide, who is a student of Visva-Bharati enabled us to see a Shantiniketan which people often miss amidst the usual bustle. We visited the various departments of the University – how Tagore imagined education, the open classrooms, the abundance of natural beauty fascinated us. Our longest stop was in Kala Bhavana – sculptures, paintings, murals and frescoes. We visited Nandan art gallery too. We also managed to sneak in to the workshop of the students and it was an artist’s world – a huge factory of colour, machinery and skill.
On the third day we went to Sriniketan to see the Puthi Bari and Rathindranath Tagore’s house. Puthi Bari is the place where the draft of “Bisarjan” was reached it’s final shape after some changes. The final evening of the final day was celebrated with a performance of “Bidhisammato Satarkikaran”, an agit-prop street theatre written by Shatadal Chakraborty for the first time at Nibhrito Purnima Natyagram ( Theatre Village ).
