Patna: The Bihar govt’s announcement to set up the National School of Drama (NSD) in Patna has been welcomed by theatre artists, aspiring actors and cultural practitioners, who see it as an opportunity to access professional training within the state.For young theatre aspirants who apply every year to NSD’s Delhi campus, the proposed institution could reduce the need to move outside Bihar for formal training. Artists said it could also make theatre education more accessible to those who cannot afford the cost of living in other cities.Bihar has a rich tradition of folk theatre and performing arts, with forms such as Bhikhari Thakur’s Bidesiya, Sama Chakeva, Jat-Jatin, Nachari and Jhijhiya forming part of its cultural heritage. Theatre practitioners said an NSD campus in Patna could help bridge traditional forms and contemporary theatre practices, besides providing opportunities for research and documentation of the state’s folk traditions.For aspiring actors, the announcement has been received as an important opportunity. Shambhavi Nath, a theatre student, said the campus could benefit not only actors but also technicians and dramatists who currently have to move to other states for professional training.“People like me will now have the opportunity to learn the nuances of acting in our own state without worrying about accommodation and other expenses,” she said.NSD alumnus and theatre artist Punj Prakash said the proposed campus addressed a long-standing demand of the theatre fraternity. “We have been struggling for the past 12 to 13 years for a dramatic school in Bihar. Actor Vineet Kumar, along with the late Satish Anand and other artists, made constant efforts to establish a dedicated institution for acting and theatre practices,” he said.Filmmaker and educator Prashant Ranjan welcomed the initiative but said it should be accompanied by efforts to strengthen film training infrastructure in Patna. He said expanding the existing film training institute could help meet the requirements of Bihar’s emerging film industry and creative sector.For Bihar’s theatre community, the proposed NSD campus is being viewed as an opportunity to provide structured training to local talent and create greater opportunities for theatre practitioners within the state.
