Lucknow: Theatre groups in the city are struggling to find suitable venues for performances, with several key auditoriums either closed for renovation or lacking basic facilities needed for professional stage productions. Of the eight major auditoriums in Lucknow, some are shut for repairs, while others, artists said, are not equipped to host theatre in its proper form.With two key auditoriums under the UP Sangeet Natak Akademi (UPSNA) currently undergoing repair and renovation, theatre groups in Lucknow say the city is facing an acute shortage of performance venues, forcing them to compromise on production quality and bear higher costs. These auditoriums, reportedly, have not been booked for a couple of months primarily due to non-functional air-conditioner.UPSNA chairperson Jayant Khot said repair work is underway at Sant Gadgeji Maharaj auditorium and Valmiki auditorium. While the air-conditioning system at Sant Gadgeji Maharaj auditorium is being repaired, renovation work is in progress at Valmiki auditorium. “Both auditoriums will be opened for bookings as soon as the work is completed,” Khot said.The ongoing closure of the two auditoriums has added to the challenges faced by theatre practitioners at a time when several other venues are either shut for renovation or lack the infrastructure required for professional stage productions.At Bhartendu Natya Akademi (BNA), two newly built auditoriums, BM Shah and Raj Bisaria Thrust, have remained closed for public use despite being inaugurated in April. Theatre groups had hoped the new facilities would ease the shortage of performance spaces in the city.BNA chairperson Rati Shankar Tripathi attributed the delay to increased power requirements following the installation of advanced lighting systems. “There is a heavy electrical load after the renovation. Earlier, we had a 400-kW generator, but after high-quality lights were installed, the existing generator is not supporting the load,” he said.Tripathi said a new 1,000-kW generator is being installed to support the upgraded lighting system. “Once it is properly installed, the auditoriums will be ready for external bookings,” he added.Theatre veterans said the crisis reflects a larger problem of inadequate and poorly maintained theatre infrastructure in Lucknow.Padma Shri awardee and veteran theatre personality Anil Rastogi said theatre practitioners have long demanded at least one auditorium designed and maintained exclusively for stage performances.“Despite spending Rs 5 crore over five years on renovating Rai Umanath Bali auditorium, it remains in a pathetic condition. The redesigned flat seating obstructs the audience’s view, the light and sound systems are of inferior quality, the green room is poorly ventilated, and the hall rent is Rs 15,000,” Rastogi said.Artists said the lack of proper stage lighting, sound infrastructure, backstage facilities and audience-friendly seating arrangements often forces theatre groups to compromise on productions. Many groups are compelled to hire lighting and technical equipment from outside despite paying substantial hall rentals, Rastogi added.Senior theatre artist Sangam Bahuguna said the closures have left groups with few options. “In helplessness, we stage plays in whatever auditoriums are available, hire theatre lights from outside and still pay hefty hall rentals,” he said.Veteran dramatist Surya Mohan Kulshreshtha said the shortage of functional auditoriums has sharply affected theatre activity in the city. According to him, the number of plays staged in Lucknow has dropped by nearly 50% because of the non-availability of suitable venues.“The administration should equip at least one auditorium solely for theatre performances,” Kulshreshtha said.The IGP ‘Row’Lucknow: As if the clsoure of majority of auditoriums was not enough, the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) recently came out with an order restricting event organisers from booking the first two rows of major halls at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan. One of them told TOI that while the the charges for the booking are exorbitant, we have been told not to book the first two rows. When asked about the order, LDA V-C Prathamesh Kumar said: ““Indira Gandhi Pratishthan regularly hosts important cultural programmes, and ensuring the safety and convenience of visitors is our top priority. In view of the crowd-management challenges witnessed during certain events, the LDA has decided that the front two rows (A and B) in Jupiter, Mars and Mercury halls will not be booked in advance. Any additional seating arrangement, if required, will be made only after obtaining approval from the competent authority. These measures are aimed at maintaining order and ensuring a safe environment for all attendees.
