Mitra Mani Pokharel, the Administrative Officer at Rastrya Naach Ghar, Jamal, says “The theater is important. Entertainment has become essential and compared to TV or films, the performance in theater is more alive onstage.” Rastrya Naach Ghar has been around for close to 20 years with a hiatus in between resulting in 16 batches having completed the course.
The Naach Ghar is an institution where you not only learn about the theater but one can train in music, dance, and vocals among other realms of the performing arts. Six-month courses are generally offered annually to approximately 80-100 students.
The cost of the entire six month course is Rs 2,000. It’s a package
that covers several aspects of performance. Classes are held every day of those six months for approximately an hour to an hour and a half in the mornings.
If you’re interested, keep your eye out for Naach Ghar to advertise their new session. Pokharel says, “This year we haven’t started yet, but we usually advertise in newspapers with all the information needed to apply.” The application process normally comprises of a form and possibly an audition as well.
If six months seems too long of a commitment, the other option is the shorter course offered by Actor’s Studio, Jhamsikhel. During three months, students go from writing a script all the way through to performing it, all of the work, step-by-step from scratch.
Anup Baral, the studio’s Artistic Director, says, “We have a three-month crash course that takes the student through the entire process of production.” The course covers a wide range of theatrics including theater, film, modern movement, body flexibility and even a dash of painting.
Actor’s Studio offers courses three times a year with sessions from June–August, October – December, and February–May. Before applying, the studio requires filling out an application, an audition and completion of higher secondary education. Baral says, “Sometimes we only have seven or eight students apply and other times it’s over 50.” Of those, the institution only offers seats to up to 20 students per session.
The cost at Actor’s Studio is Rs 20,000 for the entire three month where one gets their money’s work with a lot of hours of training. Baral says, “Since this is an intensive crash course, we have seven hours of class every day except for Saturdays.” For more information and/or to apply, contact Rajendra Shrestha at 9841600091 or Dev Neupane at 9751023023.
After completing either of these programs, many actors go on to perform in theaters as well as on TV or in films. Dayahang Rai, Director and Actor at Mandala Theatre, says although all of his actors are not trained, a lot of them have gone to Naach Ghar or Actor’s Studio. He mentions that most of them are in their twenties and adds, “For the past 5-7 years younger people have become interested in theater and that is encouraging because there is great potential but the Nepali theater scene is still relatively empty.”
Unfortunately the scope of theater in Nepal is limited and most actors are unable to act full-time. Saurat Malla has been with Gurukul, Purano Baneshwar, for eight years but has recently become involved in the film industry. “Theater and film are both my hobbies and passion but to remain involved just in theater is financially difficult for most people,” he says.
Rai echoes Malla, “There isn’t a lot of financial gain in theater right now; those who do it are involved because they love it.” Although that is a downside to the industry there are many other benefits to exploring theater.
Rai points out that these programs help build a person’s creativity and Baral adds, “Theater isn’t just for the stage, taking these courses can help in many fields of life by building on personality, body language and public speaking among other things.” So if the stage isn’t where you want to end up, it can still contribute to any career you choose.
Related story
Theaters back into operation
