Stages in Bengali theatre have over the years produced some of the best plays and dramas. Theatre as an art form was always an important element in depicting the abundant tradition of Indian culture. Right from the ancient days, till the modern times, theatre happens to be one of the celebrated art form in India. Although the history of Indian theatre goes back to the mythological or the Vedic culture, yet it is during and after the medieval period theatre in India gained its redefined structure. With the sound of the orchestra, with the illumination of those stage lights and finally teamed with the atmospheric feel of the famous stages in India, in the modern days Indian theatre gradually gained that marked diction. Theatre which was once an artistic illustration the varied aspects that were larger than life gradually became lot more contemporary with the modernization of the very concept of Indian theatre. Natya then broke the barriers of eposes and rasa dance and became the weapon to free the world from the clutches of absolute corruption and exploitation. Change therefore came in the story line and also in the presentation. Theatres were then no more the performance of the "Nat", "Nati" and "Bhaand" but became a rather organized art form. Stages were formed. Even today, the famous stages in Bengali theatre bear this rich history of Indian Natya in a very expressive manner.
Star Theatre
Star Theatre was one of the first professional stages of Bengali theatre. Reckoned as one of the famous stages in Bengali theatre, Star theatre has actually aided in delineating the creativity and artistry of Bengali theatre. The year was 1883 and the day was 21st July. Star theatre was inaugurated with the theatrical production of the famous Bengali play" Daksha Yagna". The very establishment of "Star Theatre" and later its alteration etched a milestone in the account of Indian theatre. A number of directors, playwrights and actors and stage designer who has further embellished the copious tradition of Indian theatre were once all a part of this popular stage. The year was 1931 and it was the 1st day of the month of March and the last play that was staged was one of the eminent plays "Karagar" by Manmath Roy and after that no sound of the orchestra was heard or no lights were illuminated. Star theatre was closed down whilst bringing an end to the history.
Madhusudan Mancha
This is a popular play station for Bengali plays in West Bengal. The place is located at Dhakuria at Dakhinapanan, towards south of Gariahat in Kolkata. Over the years many famous plays and dramas have been staged at this place.
Academy Of Fine Arts:
Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata is nestled at the busy corner of the 2nd Cathedral Road, and is one of the famous stages in Bengali theatre with an alluring history of long seventy-four years. It is again India`s one of the oldest fine arts societies, which aided in restructuring the feel of modern Indian theatre.
Rabindra Sadan
Rabindra Sadan is reckoned as the cultural centre of Kolkata. Nested near Nandan, Rabindra Sadan has quite a large stage, which is of course one of the prime venues for Bengali theatre.
Girish Mancha
The rich history of Indian theatre witnessed another landmark with the establishment of Girish Mancha near the Bagbazar Street at Kolkata. The great personality and the theatre patronage Girish Ghosh who has been recognized as the "father of the modern theatre" designed Girish Mancha for the greater objective of carrying theatre to the next level of maturity. Even today, Girish Mancha is regarded as one of the famous stages in Bengali theatre.
India has never witnessed a permanent settlement of any culture quite ideally therefore multifarious mores and diverse colours have ruled Indian theatre from the remote past and is still continuing the present. The famous stages of Bengali theatre therefore stand as the emblem of the rich history of Indian Natya.
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