Thrissur School Arts Festival Drama Competition Showcases Youth Talent Amid Challenges
Early Saturday morning at Chaldean Syrian Higher Secondary School in Thrissur, green rooms buzzed with activity. Students hurried through final cues, checked costumes, and ran last-minute rehearsals. The Higher Secondary Malayalam drama competition, a highlight of the State School Arts Festival, kicked off with palpable excitement.
Day-Long Performances Draw Enthusiastic Crowds
Competitions ran from morning until night, attracting theatre lovers, students, and cultural enthusiasts. Plays covered a wide range of forms and themes. Some offered slapstick comedy, while others engaged with contemporary socio-political concerns through layered narratives.
The audience appreciated the overall quality of performances. They applauded the young actors for displaying remarkable confidence and maturity on stage. This positive response significantly boosted the performers' morale.
Student Groups Share Their Festival Journey
Anna Rose, a participant in Pokku staged by St Mary's Higher Secondary School Edoor, expressed her team's thrill. Her group missed qualification last year after placing second at the district level. They returned this year with renewed determination.
Pokku explores student migration and the generational conflicts it triggers. The play struck a chord with audiences through its humor-laden narrative and relatable conflicts.
Literary Figures Praise Adaptations
Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award winner Vinoy Thomas lauded the adaptation of his short story Vishudha Magdalana Mariyathinte Palli by Government Higher Secondary School, Kokkallur. Thomas observed that student performances helped audiences visually grasp story nuances that might not be so evident on the page.
Critical Voices Highlight Infrastructure Issues
Amid the applause, critical voices emerged. National award-winning filmmaker Priyanandanan, known for Pulijanmam, praised student efforts but criticized what he termed inadequate arrangements. He noted that poor lighting and sound diminished the viewing experience for audiences who traveled long distances.
This concern felt particularly striking given that this marked the festival's 64th edition.
Artistic Concerns About Uniformity
Some theatre practitioners in the audience raised deeper artistic concerns. Despite original stories and committed performances, they felt most plays followed a uniform, familiar style of narration.
According to one theatre artist and school teacher from Kottayam, this trend stems from an unwritten formula believed to secure an A grade at the festival. He suggested this often comes at the cost of experimentation and creative risk.
A Space of Vibrant Talent and Serious Engagement
Overall, the Higher Secondary Malayalam drama competition stood out as a space of vibrant talent and serious engagement. Questions lingered about infrastructure and artistic freedom, but the event clearly reflected the enduring strength of school theatre in Kerala.
Many agreed the festival also highlighted challenges school theatre must confront to evolve further. The competition showcased both the promise of young performers and the systemic issues affecting their platform.
