Exciting tiatr performances lined up for this Easter season in Goa

In the tiny State of Goa, Easter Sunday is traditionally followed by feasts of crosses and chapels across various villages in both North and South Goa. And, apart from the Eucharistic celebration that marks the beginning of the annual festivities, no feast is considered complete without staging a traditional tiatr.

Every feast of the Cross — whether celebrated by the roadside or in chapels — begins with a morning liturgical service.

As evening falls, the atmosphere becomes more relaxed, and people gather in large numbers, along with their relatives and friends, at a designated venue to watch a pre-booked tiatr, marking the grand finale of the celebration.

EASTER LINE-UP

This Easter season, a good number of tiatrs are lined up by some of the most noted directors of the stage, with each one — along with their respective troupes — ready to showcase their acting and singing talents.

Some new releases by popular commercial tiatrists have already been booked well in advance, leaving latecomers without the chance to enjoy a good show this festive season.

BOOKED: Some new releases by popular commercial 'tiatrists' have already been booked well in advance.

The new tiatrs set to be released this Easter season include Roseferns 106th production Dudhant Sakor, Prince Jacob’s 76th production Sonvsarant Astanam, Comedian Ambe’s tiatr Fatrachea Kallzacho, and ’s Xikop Naslolo.

Others are Comedian Joyel’s Mhoji Maim, Mhoji Sasumaim, Francis de Tuem’s tiatr Khuim Vhortolo?, Peter/Roshan’s tiatr Jawan, Selvin de Siolim’s tiatr Monxeak Mortoch Valor, Rioma Menezes’ tiatr Sopon Soponuch Urlem and Martin de Ponda’s tiatr Amchim Sopnam.

Some of the award winning tiatrs from y’s A Group Tiatr Competition will also find a place in the village shows this Easter season. These include Alexin de Morjim’s tiatr Varear Ubtolo Kapus, Matias Macarenhas’ tiatr Aiz Mhaka Faleam Tuka, Pedro Vaz’ tiatr Vavttoll, and Antonet de Sousa’s tiatr Tum Mhaka Zai.

A handful of old productions, released earlier this year will be re-released this Easter season as well. They are Pascoal de Chicalim’s tiatr Atam Amchem Kitem Zatolem? and John D’Silva’s tiatr Mogall, which will continue till May-end. 

ENCORE: Some old productions, released earlier this year will be re-released this Easter season.

Two tiatrs are expected for a grand release in May, likely with -only shows that may continue through the monsoon season. These include Saby de Divar’s Mhojem Poilem Ghor and Comedienne Anita’s Smile Please. 

Compared to last year, with Easter falling in mid-April this time, tiatr directors have a much shorter window to secure bookings and stage their Easter productions in both cities and villages. By the end of May, some directors will announce their new monsoon releases, which will be staged exclusively in city auditoriums.

As a result, most tiatr directors will likely choose not to focus heavily on elaborate stage sets or other complex elements. Instead, they will opt for simpler scripts and plots, incorporating a dose of songs and comedy.

 On the other hand, newcomers may dedicate themselves to refining the script, direction, songs, comedy, stage sets, and lighting, aiming to capture the audience's and organizers' hearts, which could lead to increased demand for their future productions.