Editor,
I am writing this in response to the recent concerns raised about the International Theatre Festival and the questions regarding its purpose, scale and impact in Arunachal Pradesh.
While the observations come from a place of worry, it is equally important to understand the real context in which our state is developing its theatre culture and how this journey actually looks on the ground.
- ‘Theatre barely exists in the state.”
Arunachal has only recently stepped into the world of theatre. Every culture begins small. Even the biggest theatre cities in India started with only a handful of groups. Rather than calling it a failure, we should recognise that we are in the early stage of a theatre movement, not the absence of one.
- “Only three productions are from the home state.”
When the entire ecosystem is new, expecting a large number of homegrown productions immediately is unrealistic. Another point that often gets missed is this: even when local groups stage plays, very few people actually attend or pay for these shows. Without steady audiences and without proper theatre infrastructure, how are our production houses supposed to sustain themselves throughout the year?
The festival at least provides a once-a-year opportunity for them to access funds, visibility and an audience. But theatre can grow only when the community also shows up and supports performances.
It is also important to understand that having production houses from outside the state is not a disadvantage. It is actually a huge learning opportunity for our young artists, students and theatre groups. They get to watch and interact with professionals who have been practising theatre for many years. They see how rehearsals are structured, how sets are handled, how scripts are developed and how performances are staged professionally. That kind of exposure is not possible without such festivals. Instead of seeing outside participation as a threat, we should see it as a classroom that Arunachali artists get for free.
- “Organisers have not produced plays throughout the year.”
This claim is not entirely accurate. There are a few theatre groups in Arunachal that are extremely active throughout the year, regularly creating plays, staging performances and sharing their work on social media. Anyone who follows the local art community online would already know this.
At the same time, in a growing art scene, organisers often act as facilitators rather than producers. Their role right now is to bring exposure, training and visibility to artists. As interest and participation grow, year-long productions from more groups will naturally follow. Expecting a fully developed theatre ecosystem when the community is still in its early stages is simply not realistic.
- “The festival is centralised and does not involve schools or colleges.”
Theatre must first build a basic audience and community before it can be decentralised. School-level or district-level activities are possible only when there is interest and participation. The festival is helping create that foundation. Many students who attended last year later joined theatre workshops because they were inspired. That is how cultural change begins – gradually but steadily.
- “It is a misuse of taxpayers’ money.”
Every art movement requires investment in its early stages. If we want Arunachal to develop a strong cultural identity, funding is essential, not wasteful. And the early results are visible. More young people are joining theatre, more workshops are being organised, more scripts are being written, and more conversations about art are taking place. This is exactly how cultures are built.
- “The festival is a hoax.”
A hoax does not inspire or create opportunities. This festival has given performers, writers, students and audiences a platform that Arunachal never had before. The progress may look small to some, but it is meaningful.
In conclusion
Arunachal is still in the early stages of building a theatre culture. Expecting dozens of groups and year-long productions immediately is not practical. The encouraging part is that interest in theatre is growing, more people are participating, and young artists finally have a platform. Instead of dismissing these early efforts, we should support and encourage them. Every cultural movement begins small before it becomes a legacy.
A citizen speaking for the artists who are trying