KOCHI: The Lokadharmi theatre group in Ernakulam has got an eco-friendly performance complex, full with support facilities for research, training, and accommodation, at Manattuparambu near Nayarambalam on Monday, the World Theatre Day.
With this has come true the dream of theatre director and actor A. Chandradasan, who laboured hard and put everything he earned all his life to commission the first phase of the ambitious project having space for workshops and executing research projects full with a library.
The second phase of the complex, which is to begin now, will have a modern performing space, with seating provision for a few hundred spectators. It will be a space amenable to various types of staging and will take a couple of years for completion. While Mr. Chandradasan dug deep into his pocket to fund the three-level first phase, the remaining work will require donations and assistance by the government or institutions.
As reported by The Hindu two years ago, Mr. Chandradasan raised ₹1 crore by selling 6.5 cents with a house at Vyttila and spent nearly half of it to buy 26 cents at Manattuparambu, some 11 km from Marine Drive for the ‘Lokadharmi Centre for Theatre Research, Training and Performance’.
The eco-friendly structure was designed by Costford, and care has been given to cause least environmental impact because of the laterite structure.
Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac inaugurated the space at a well-attended event in the presence of S. Sarma, MLA, and K.G. Paulose. A Mudiyettu performance led by V.N. Narayana Kurup of Kizhakke Varanattu Mudiyettu Sangham followed the inaugural.
