Natya Academy- NBDD

Natyo Utkarsha Kendra News published in Uttar Banga Sambad of 31.12.13. General Public to be educated on the recent trends of Drama.

Concept  Paper  on the  Natya  Acadeny  at  Balurghat,  Dakshin  Dinajpur- based upon the inputs provided by the faculty of the National School of Drama, New Delhi

Foreword: At the beginning we express our sincerest regard to the contribution of the extremely dedicated and brilliant faculty of the National School of Drama, New Delhi towards developing the concept  on the whole thing, who spent two extremely valuable days in educating the writer on the basics of theatre and then some of the nitti-gritties of modern day theatredesign and  architecture.

The Studio Theatre at the Natya Academy at Balurghat will be of the Mini- proscenium type.  A Black Box type of Studio Theatre which may double up as workshop as well is also envisaged herein. The mini proscenium should accommodate around 130 spectators while the black box should accommodate for around 80 number of persons as audience.

The requirements for the Natya Academy in addition to the mini proscenium and black box  theatre auditoriums  are as follows:

1. Administrative Building with Office room and separate rooms for Director/President & Secretary

2. Three covered spaces each of about 2500 sq. feet for workshops for students, complete with locker rooms and cabinets

3. Dormitory  for students 1 (one) for male and 1(one) for  female

4. Residential accommodation for VIPs- Three number of Double bedded rooms with a.c.

5. A round table Conference Room for meeting with approx. 30 participants and one Class room for about 35 trainees.

6. One library with archive having facilities of electronic records (1200 sq. feet).

7. Parking lot for about 25 cars.

8. Landscaped garden with sculptured court which may house open air performances.

9. Toilet facilities for office, performers and audience.

10. Facilities in the auditorium like ramps, etc., for the disabled.

11. Storage room for equipment, sceneries, props, sets, etc.

The specific requirements of the auditoriums,  lighting, sound systems are as follows:-

A)      Mini- Proscenium Stage: 

 1.  The stage dimensions should be an average of 30’ in depth and 30’ in width.  There would be a sitting arrangement of 120- 150 persons.

2.  The stage floor would be about  1’ -  1.5’ feet above the auditorium ground having the first row of seats. There would be a 3-4 feet gap between the stage and first row of seats.

3.  The stage height, (proscenium opening) should be about 11’ in height.

4.  The height above the stage should be at least twice the height of the proscenium opening.

5.  The cyclorama should have adequate space behind it for back projection. When not used, there should be a heavy moveable black curtain behind the cyclorama, at least 3-4 feet behind it.

6.  In case there is a wall at the back of the stage, there should be a 7’ wide passage behind the cyclorama and the wall for movement of actors etc. from one side of the stage to another behind the cyclorama.

7. There should be a grid of 3 inches diameter iron pipes below the roof of the stage, the fire fighting pipes and equipment like smoke detectors can be camouflaged in. 

8. The stage floor should be made of wood strips as per standard norms.

9. There should be at least 2 flying curtains on the stage bars, to change the depth

of the stage, as per the programme requirements.

10. The front Teaser and Tormentor just behind the proscenium opening should be adjustable to alter the height and width of the stage.

11. Suitable ladders and platform trolleys for fixing and adjusting the lights, should be an integral part of the stage requirements.

12. The front curtain should be on two independent systems, so that in case of a failure of one, the other alternative system can be used to close the curtain.

13. The Cyclorama at the back of the stage should be of optically smooth material, and should be easily shifted for bringing in big scenery pieces.

14. The access from backstage areas to the wing space should be sufficiently large. 

15. A quick-change room and make-up room should be available on both sides of the stage, with lights and  mirrors and chairs and voice feed for the artists.

                                               Black Box Theatre                      Source: Google

B)      Black Box Theatre cum workshop Theatre for learners:

1.       Dimension of minimum 40 feet by 40 feet with several openings- four for doors for entry of artists and audience, one each for make- up and changing room, lighting and sound booth , several  openings for additional space for extending the stage and for showing different locations all covered with heavy black curtains.

2.       Height of the room to be around 15 feet. The room should be painted totally black with rough painted surface to reduce reflection of light. Grid system to be installed just below the roof with iron pipes of 3 inches diameter, the fire fighting pipes and equipment like smoke detectors can be camouflaged in the grid.

3.       Buffer walls by the side of the black box with passage of 10 feet width, with provision of holding two quick change rooms at diagonally opposite locations for movement of artists  with pathways not interfering with audience movement and with lights and  mirrors and chairs and voice feed for the artists.

4.       Suitable ladders and platform trolleys for fixing and adjusting lights, should be an integral part of the stage requirements.

5.       The stage floor should be made of wood strips as per standard norms.

6.       Sitting arrangements for 75-80 persons can be arranged in a suitable configuration with respect to the stage.

7.       The speciality of the black box system is the flexibility of the stage or the acting area of the performers. So any portion of the black box can be the performing area. A screen of white cloth  with image from a projector behind the performing area can give the perspective or backdrop or the scenery of the act. This projection can be arranged from the lighting booth.

Lighting:

1.       There should be at least 3 FOH bars with catwalks in the roof of the auditorium for lights, and built in a manner that the access and adjustments of lights should be easy. The middle catwalk should be broad enough to accommodate and operate, follow spots.

2.       Stage geography: The stage can be equally divided into 9 square areas in a three by three matrix , each area to be mapped 1:1 with lights.

3.       The angles of the lights should be adjustable vertically and from side to side. The angle of the lights in relation to the stage should be around 70 degrees. The lights to be angled at 45 degrees for incidence ito the stage.

4.       The roof area in front of the lights, should be set back by at least 5 – 6 feet in a slope which should be such that the spill from the light beams does not bounce off the slope.

5.       Provisions for installing lights in the side wall of the auditorium, in a proper position and at a proper height, should be provided.

6.       An adequate patch should be provided in the lighting booth, along with the DMX control and computer management of the light. The control of lights should be flexible either manually (hard patch) or through computer programming (soft patch).

7.       The lighting booth must be at the back of the auditorium and provide a clear view of the entire stage. There can be adjustable glass panels between the lighting booth and stage, so that the operator can view the stage either through the glass panel or directly. 

8.       The dimmers can be placed in the backstage area, on the side of the stage in a separate air-conditioned room, and the main fuses should be in the vicinity.

9.       LCD projectors should be provided in at least 3 different places possible for installing the projectors in the auditorium.

10.   The number and type of lights/ accessories, filters etc. can be finalized subsequently. This is very important to have in the theatre’s inventory.

11.   The lighting of the auditorium should be controllable from the light booth, and should be set on dedicated dimmers only for this purpose, and also be operated by automatic/programed  dimmer control.

12.   Lamps/lights in the lighting booth should be sufficient, so that the operator has a good view of the control panels, without light significantly spilling into the auditorium.

13.   Permanent light points need to be available on the bars above the stage, and in the bars of the FOH. Covered electrical points need to be available in the floor of the stage, in the wings, and in the backstage area. 

14.   All electrical wiring for stage dynamic lighting needs to be circuited via dimmers, and controllable from the lighting booth. Backstage working lights and footlights which illuminate the backstage area during she shows without spilling onto the stage need to be positioned properly and controllable from backstage itself, and via an alternative circuit in the lighting booth.

Sound:

1.       The sound control can be set next to the lighting booth, with a provision for controlling the sound from the back of the auditorium.

2.       An adequate intercom system between the backstage and lighting/sound booth should be available. 

3.       A Public Address system between the sound booth and the stage should be provided through speakers in the auditorium for playback of sound and announcements. This can be used for rehearsals. 

4.       The stage and auditorium should be treated acoustically so that it is possible to use without microphones, specially for drama.

5.       The speakers should be arranged at the appropriate height and width, to give maximum balance when using static sound, with provision of panning sound from one side of the auditorium to the other, so that stereophonic and 3 D perception of sound is possible.

6.       Covered sound points in the stage floor, and in front and on the sides, of the stage, as well as backstage, and on the bars, should be available. The wiring for sound and lights should be kept very separate, as proximity of these cables causes disturbances in sound.

7.       No compromises should be made when choosing a sound system. At least 24 channels inputs/outputs should be possible. Possibilities for using wireless mikes should be built-in into the sound system.

8.       All dressing rooms should be provided with stage feedback sound, loudness adjustable, and at a approachable height.

     WEEKLONG WORKSHOP ON  THEATRE BY PASCHIMBANGA  NATYA ACADEMY         HELD AT BALURGHAT ORGANISED BY DEPARTMENT OF I&CA, WEST BENGAL 
     -THE FACILITY ON REGULAR BASIS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE NATYA UTKARSHA KENDRA/ NATYA ACADEMY AT BALURGHAT ( SCHEME IMPLEMENTATION TO START SOON)