MARGAO: Famed tiatr artistes Jack Rodson and Normendez were honoured with awards instituted in memory of late Rosario Rodrigues for their contribution to Zomnivelle Khell and Khell-Tiatr, respectively, at a function organised by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) in collaboration with Ravindra Bhavan, Vasco, on Saturday.

Goa Legislative Assembly Speaker Dr Ganesh Gaonkar, who attended the award presentation ceremony as a chief guest, called upon the tiatr fraternity to revive the traditional art form in rural and remote villages, where it has deep roots in Goan culture.

Gaonkar said tiatr was once an integral part of village life, with people actively participating in performances and using the stage to highlight issues affecting their communities. He stressed the need to restore this connection and ensure that tiatr continued to flourish at the grassroots level.

He appreciated Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, Art and Culture Minister Ramesh Tawadkar, TAG president Anthony Barbosa and the academy’s council members for their efforts to promote tiatr through competitions at the school and college levels. He said recognition by UNESCO would be a significant achievement for the tiatr fraternity and Goans worldwide, and assured his full support for the initiative.

Guest of honour and famed tiatrist Dominic Carvalho appealed to the youth to take a keen interest in tiatr and consider it as a profession. He commended TAG for its efforts to promote the art form and take it to the next level.

Velim MLA Cruz Silva and former MLA Antonio (Tony) Fernandes also extended their support to the academy and appreciated its initiatives to preserve and promote tiatr.

In his welcome address, TAG president Anthony Barbosa outlined the academy’s initiatives to safeguard tiatr and its efforts to secure international recognition for the traditional Goan theatre form. He thanked the Chief Minister and the Art and Culture Minister for their support.

TAG vice-president Marcos Gonsalves, while proposing the vote of thanks, stressed the importance of systematically documenting tiatr’s history, literature and other related materials. He called for collective efforts to compile and preserve historical records so that the rich legacy of tiatr could be safeguarded for future generations.

The function also featured the distribution of prizes to the winners of the sixth All Goa Inter-Higher Secondary School, College and University Tiatr Competition. The awards were presented by the dignitaries.

The ceremony highlighted the importance of honouring veteran artistes, encouraging young talent and preserving the cultural heritage of Goan tiatr.