Tiatr (; ) is a type of musical theatre that is popular in the state of Goa on the west coast of India, as well as in Mumbai and among the Goan expatriate communities in the Middle East, United Kingdom, and other cities with a significant presence of Konkani speakers. The plays are primarily performed in the Romi Konkani dialects and incorporate elements such as music, dance, and singing. Individuals who perform in tiatr are referred to as tiatrists.
Etymology The word comes from the Portuguese word for theatre, . Earlier variations of the word were , , and .
History During the 19th century, Goa was known for its theatrical performances called zagor and khell. These musical plays were staged outdoors in various public spaces such as street corners, village centers, and open areas. Zagor was primarily popular in North Goa, particularly in Bardes, while khell found its audience in South Goa, particularly in Salcete. Initially, these performances focused on social themes and were free from controversy and negative criticism. However, towards the end of the 19th century, the zagor form of entertainment gained popularity in Bombay, attracting the interest of North Goans. Unfortunately, this form of entertainment was considered crude and vulgar, leading to the embarrassment of the more affluent Goans residing in Bombay. They faced ridicule and mockery from non-Goans, which prompted the middle and upper classes in Bombay to shift their attention to English and Portuguese dramas.
Lucasinho Ribeiro, who was from Assagao, was seeking employment in Bombay. Passionate about the performing arts, he was highly impressed with the stylised Italian operas performed there. He took up a job for an Italian opera troupe which was touring Indian cities at the time, staging an opera called Italian Boy. When the troupe left India, Lucasinho Ribeiro bought the costumes used in the play with the intention of staging a Konkani play on the style of the Italian Opera. His collaborators in the effort were Caetaninho Fernandes of Taleigao and João Agostinho Fernandes of Borda, Margao.
On Easter Sunday, 17 April 1892, the first-ever performance, Italian Bhurgo, adapted from the Italian play, was staged at the New Alfred Theatre, Bombay. This day is celebrated as (Tiatr Day). Hence, the Goan art form of was the product of the meeting of Goan culture and the opera of Italy. Since there were many different scenes in this and it required different stage sets, they thought of dropping the curtain and performing songs and dances in front of it. This was needed to entertain the audience while the stage setting was being done behind the curtain. These songs and dances did not have any relevance to the theme of the play.
The first original script was written and directed by João Agostinho Fernandes in 1895 in Bombay and was titled Belle de Cavel or Sundori Cavelchi. For all his consistent devotion and encouragement over fifty years, Fernandes was conferred the title Pai Tiatrist (Father Tiatrist). Regina Fernandes, wife of the playwright João Agostinho Fernandes, became the first female actor in on 22 November 1904. Divorce, a written and directed by Airistides Dias, was the first to complete 100 performances on 5 October 1980.
However, as time passed, the standard of as well as Khell deteriorated in quality with the introduction of elements of vulgarity. Educated people stopped patronising the as well as the . While was growing in popularity, its original forms – the and the – were slowly fading away; the completely stopped being performed while the continued.
In 1956 the underwent a dramatic change. Given its state at that time, Antonio Moraes thought it fit to take the from the street performance to a stage performance. Helped by his friend and colleague Antonio Marian, the khell was performed on a stage for the first time with a backdrop and other paraphernalia associated with theatre. The first , , written and directed by Antonio Moraes, was staged on the third day of Carnival of March 1956. However, this form became very popular only in the 1970s when Rosario Rodrigues coined the term and came up with extremely successful shows. Thus, the ground-based plays known as evolved onto the stage and further into 'non-stop dramas'. They have now generally dropped this label and are generally referred to as .
contributed to keeping the Konkani language alive during Portuguese colonial rule, when Konkani was suppressed. played a major role in the struggle to make Konkani the official language of Goa.
In 2007, the Government of Goa started the Tiatr Academy of Goa to facilitate the development of . In 2008 legislation was approved granting 15 lakh () rupees to the newly formed Tiatr Academy of Goa.
Description Tiatr today focuses on social, religious, and political themes, serving as a reflection of Goan culture. The drama is divided into six or seven acts, known as pordhe, which are interspersed with songs. These songs aren’t always directly connected to the plot or issues of the main drama, and usually, two or three songs are performed between each act.
Tiatrists have always demonstrated a very high degree of social awareness. Most of the themes of are concerned with social problems confronting the people. Despite centuries of Portuguese suppression and post-liberation neglect from the state governments, as an art form has not just survived but thrived and reinvented itself in many ways.
as a dramatic form has been traditionally dominated and patronised by the Christian community, but over the years several young Hindu artists have been performing in the , which are also seen by people from the Hindu community.
Songs Songs integral to the plays are known as . Other songs, called , are generally either comedic or based on topical, political and controversial issues that are interspersed through the performance. These musical interludes are independent of the main theme of the play. The songs are often satirical and unsparing of the politics and politicians of Goa. The music is provided by a live band including keyboard, trumpet, saxophone, bass guitar and drums.
Khell Tiatr A variant of tiatr, called khell tiatr, is performed exclusively during the festivals of Carnival, Intruz, and Easter. Unlike the traditional Konkani tiatr, khell tiatr integrates its songs into the main drama, ensuring that the content of the songs does not deviate from the story.
Modern-day tiatr Besides the regular commercial shows, are held as part of the celebrations of nearly every church and chapel feast in the state. The Goa Kala Academy organises a state-level competition every year while the Tiatr Academy organises a popular competition for dramas which has exceeded 25 performances. songs and performances are recorded and sold on CD and DVD in Goan and Middle Eastern markets. Although efforts have been made to preserve the art form as a tradition of Goa, there have been calls for greater recognition of Mumbai-based tiatrists.'Mumbai-based tiatrists ignored'. Times of India. 2 June 2009. 2 June 2009 Times of India
List of tiatrists
Some of these names are from an article on the GoaWorld.com website.
Past tiatrists
A. J. Fernandes A. M. Pacheco Agapito Xavier Agnelo Lobo Alex de Sanvordem Aleixinho de Candolim Alexinho de Maxem A. F. Souza Ferrão A. R. Souza Ferrão Alfred Rose A. M. B. Rose Andrew Fernandes Anil Kumar Annie Quadros Anthony De Sa Anthony Carr Anthony Mendes Antonette De Calangute Antonette Mendes Antonio Francisco de Gauravaddo Aristides Dias A. S. Conception Augustine Rebello Bab Peter Babush Fernandes Bernard de Aldona Bernard de Parra Betty Ferns Betty Naz Bom Jezu Bushan Rodrigues Christopher Leitao Comedian Selvy C. Alvares Comedian Marcus Caitano Milagres Fernandes Caiti Cajetan Pereira Carmo Rod Cecilia Machado Champion Alvares Champion Peter Crista Furtado Milagres Fernandes Clara Dias Clemmie Pereira Miss Julie Star of Oxel Cyriaco Dias Damiao D'Costa Derrick Mendes (Mendes Bros.) Dennis Simoes Diogo Cardoz de Khobravado M. Dod de Verna Dummulo de Gauravaddo Ernest Rebello Effie Emmy Fernandes (Colva) Felix Mendes (Mendes Bros.) Filipe Dias Flora Mendes Francis de Parra Francis de Verna Francis Xavier Mendes Francis Tembo Nevel Gracias (Vel'lekar) Genevieve Greg de Souza H. Britton J B Rod J. P. Souzalin Jacinto Vaz Jephsis Hitler Jessie Dias Pai Tiatrist João Inacio Jose Rod de Parra John Claro John Dias (Candolim) Johnny de Saligao Jose Rod Josephine Dias Julius Noronha Junior Rod Maestro Josinho Kid Boxer Krishna Moyo Lajea Da Costa Laverent Pereira Lawrence de Tiracol Leena de Anjuna Lucasinho Ribeiro Lucian Dias Luis Martins Luiza Fernandes M. Boyer Manuel Noronha Marceline de Betim Marian Rodrigues Mario de Colva Mario de Navelim Mario Menezes Master Ingnatius de Mapusa Master Vaz Mastor Matthew Araujo Meena Leitao Menino de Bandar Minguel Rod Mike Mehta Miss Marekin Mohana Cabral Nelson Afonso Olavo Ernesto Gomes Ophelia Cabral Patrick Dourado Paul Romy Peter Gomes de Umtavaddo Peter V Fernandes Philomena Braz Philu de Aldona Platilda Dias Prem Kumar Premanand Lotlikar Querobina Carvalho Remmie Colaço Rama Rico Rod Rita Rose Robin Vaz Roglo Naik Romaldo D’Souza Romeo Mendes Roam Tony Rosario Rodrigues Rosario Agnelo Dias Rosary Ferns Saib Rocha S Lemos Sabina Fernandes Salvador Souza S.B. Radio Seby Coutinho Shalibai Shalini Mardolkar Sharon Mazarello Shrirang Narvekar Souza Boy Souza Guião Star of Curtorim Star of Arossim Succurine Fizardo Sandra Dias Teotonio D’Costa Thomas Andrade Thomas Coogan Titta Pretto Tomazinho Cardozo Tony Call Tommy Alvares (J. S. Alvares) Brother of C. Alvares – Sangolda Tony King (Anthony Alvares), son of Champion Alvares Tony Martins Victor de Calangute Vincent de Saligão Vincent Fernandes (Murganv Bondr) Vincy Quadros Wilson Mazarello Willy Fernandes Xavier Mendes (Mendes Bros.) Young Chico Young Menezes Young Mendes Vincente Fernandes (Sezapai) William de Curtorim Bab Kistu de Calangute Cajetan de Sanvordem Silva de Benaulim
Active tiatrists
Abee Simoes Afileo Fernandes Aggi Rod Agnelo Borim Agnelo Lobo Agnelo 'Nel' Agnelo Vailantonio Lobo Agnes D'Silva Agostinho Mascarenhas Agostinho Temudo (Comedian Agostinho) Aires de Arambol Albert Cabral Aleixinho Fernandes (Tiatr Writer, Merces) Aleka Velora Cardozo Alex Rodrigues Alexin de Morjim Alfi de Divar (Alfredo Fernandes) Alias Fernandes Alicia Crasto Alijoy Fernandes Alison de Curtorim Aliston Colaco Alister Costa Aliston Colaco Aliya Kimberly Cardozo Aliva Angel Cardozo (child artist) Aliya Kimberly Cardozo Allwin Colaco Alria Rose D'Souza Amresh Kamat Andre Brazinho de Souza Andrea D'Souza Andrew de Utorda (Ava Trio) Aniceto Ferns (Parra Boys Trio) Aniceto Lourenco Anil Pednekar Anna Pereira Anneli Pereira and Avila Pereira Anthony Agnelo Vaz Anthony Carr Anthony Cardoso Anthony Chico Anthony D'Costa Anthony de Ambajim Anthony de Velim Anthony D'Souza Anthony Kindla Anthony Fernandes Ambajim Anthony Furtado Anthony San Antonette de Maina Antonette de Ponda (Antonette Mendes) Antonio Caridade Salvador (ACS) Vaz Antonio Vaz (Colva) Antony Kindla Antush D'Silva Aplon Aplonia Rebelo (Felcy'gue bhoin) Ariff Correia Aristides (Lucian Dias'acho bhav) Armando Mascarenhas Arnaldo Costa Ashben Cardozo (Musician) Assumptin Augustine Coelho Augustine Mascarenhas Augusto Morais (Musician) Ave Dsouza Aveena Pereira Avers Pereira Avila Pereira Avito Fernandes (Tiatr Director and Writer, Merces) Avito Pires de Menezes Avlon Avy Rodrigues (Avy Boy Parra) Bab Andrew Baba Cielo Babit de Zuari Baltazar Pontes Baptist Crasto Basilio Pires Bella Coutinho Ben Evangelisto Benny de Aldona Benny Mendes Betty Alvares Benzer Fernandes