The iconic Tagore Theatre in Chandigarh’s Sector 18 is one of the most sought after places in the city to hold any kind of closed-door event. The venue’s prime location, unmatched facilities, the aura and accessibility make it like no other venue in Chandigarh. Added to all this is the heritage value and the legacy of the place.
Let’s have a quick tour to understand how this ‘ordinary’ site has evolved to become an indispensable part of the life and culture of Chandigarh.
History
Tagore Theatre was constructed in the year 1961 to mark the birth centenary of Sir Rabindranath Tagore. It continued to be the only theatre in the city of Chandigarh for several decades, thus becoming an indispensable part of the life and culture of the city. Now, it has been converted to a massive auditorium which hosts several theatrical plays, functions and cultural events throughout the year.
The Creator
Tagore Theatre was designed by the notable architect Aditya Prakash, who was also a part of the Chandigarh Capital Project Team, headed by Le Corbusier. Mr. Prakash had worked closely with the legendary planner, and was a key element of the Indian team assisting him. Aditya Prakash was also the then principal of the well-known Chandigarh College of Architecture, and was entrusted to layout this cultural hub for the city.
Apart from Tagore theatre, he has also designed a number of iconic houses in different sectors of the city beautiful.
Architecture
The architecture of Tagore Theatre primarily represents two square blocks: the larger one accommodating the main auditorium, the foyer, booking office, etc., and the smaller, stage, green rooms properties, reversal area, workshop, electrical installation, air-conditioning etc. The acting area of the stage is located at the meeting place of the two squares.
Externally, the structure is a bare brick-walled, cuboidal structure. The interiors of the theatre were made in consultation with actors Prithviraj Kapoor and Zul Vellani, with careful emphasis on design aspects such as acoustics, sightlines, size of stage in relation to the size of auditorium, and optimal distance for un-aided facial recognition.
The auditorium capacity of the Tagore Theatre is 600.
Facilities
The auditorium, though, being more than half a century old, is well-maintained and is in good shape. It has main auditorium with a capacity of 600+, and a mini auditorium. It has two well-equipped rehearsal halls, 8 green rooms, dressing rooms and two retiring rooms. The theatre also houses a canteen in the basement, along with a souvenir shop and a book shop. There’s adequate parking space in front of the site. Overall, the venue enjoys a very good aura.
Events Held
Tagore Theatre, since its construction, has hosted several events of varied stature. Many organisations and events have chosen it to be their regular host. The Chandigarh Theatre Festival and Chandigarh Humour Festival are the annual events held here. The venue hosts cultural evenings, functions and shows. Local schools hold their annual functions here. Standup Comedy shows are also held here regularly.
Address: Tagore Theatre, Sector-18, Chandigarh 160018
Website: http://tagoretheatrechd.org
Phone: 0172-2724278
E-mail: tagoretheatre18(at)gmail(dot)com
