Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts

Shri Ram Centre for Art and Culture, Delhi

The present building of the Centre opened in the early ’60s. It was designed by Shiv Nath Prasad with help from theatre doyen, Ebrahim Alkazi, and was constructed under the overall supervision of industrialist Vinay Bharat Ram of Shriram Group (DCM Ltd.), from the industrialist family of Lala Shri Ram. The Shankar Lal Murli Dhar Auditorium has a capacity of 375 people at two levels; 300 in the stall & 75 in the balcony.[4]

The SRCPA Repertory was set up in 1980, with the dual aim of achieving excellence by producing quality plays and of providing a platform for talented actors to engage in meaningful theatre. Presently, the Repertory is a full-time professional resident theatre company, performing regularly in Delhi and in other parts of the country. The company comprises 14 artists and a resident director namely, Sameep Singh (Chief of Repertory)[5]

In order to enable the actors to continuously hone and enhance their skills, the actors are engaged in various activities around the theatre, apart from play productions, such as play readings, talks on theatre by theatre veterans, theatre practitioners & scholars and workshops on important subjects such as body movements, singing, concentration, voice modulation and make-up. This encourages the actors to master all aspects of theatre production namely costume design, stagecraft, light design, music selection, publicity etc.

The Repertory stages around three new plays each year. It is known for its eclectic list of productions that ranges from classic plays to contemporary drama. The list also includes translations and adaptations of famous international plays. Some of its successful productions have also been invited to be part of various theatre festivals across the country. Although the plays are presently performed in Hindi, the company plans to stage English plays as well. SRC thus invites experienced theatre directors for the same.

Over the years, the SRC Repertory Company has had the honour of working with eminent directors like Rajinder Nath, Ranjit Kapoor,[6] B.V. Karanth, Habib Tanveer, B.M. Shah, Bansi Kaul, Piyush Mishra, Suresh Sharma, Roysten Abel, Sanjay Upadhyay, Bapi Bose, Avtaar Sahni, Chittaranjan Tripathi, Urmil Kumar Thapliyal, Mushtaq Kak, Chetan Dattar, Rabijita Gogoi, Aniruddh Khutwad, K. Madvane, K.S. Rajendran, Zafar Sanjari, Sameep Singh, Sohaila Kapur[7] and Niloy Roy.[8]

Notable alumni include:

• Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts