The hit Konkani tiatr ‘Konnak Patieupachem’ by Francis de Tuem is a great entertainer making waves in Britain with a hat-trick of housefull bookings. And, it’s not surprising the actors are having an extended stay on “public demand”
TGLife
Francis de Tuem and troupe who are in London to perform their super hit tiatr ‘Konnak Patieupachem’ in Wembley Southall and Swindon have had to extend the tour and organise an extra show on July 23 as the four shows performed on July 20, 21 (two shows) and 22 were booked in advance. As the first show was sold out, many of the tiatr-lovers had to return disappointed.
The team had to cancel its sight-seeing after the last show on July 22 and the fifth show is put up on that day to honour the public demand.
The shows in the UK are organised by Wimbley Goans UK, backed by sponsor Tony Gonsalves who hails from Divar. Himself a big time tiatr lover, Tony is known as a prominent promoter of Konkani tiatr in the UK.
‘Konnak Patieupachem’ is the sixth tiatr of Francis de Tuem, the writer, director and producer of the work. actors include Peter, Pradeep, Marcus, Lawry, Ambe, Bryan, Richard, Roshan, Benzer, Frazio, Sheikh Amir, Manohar Bhingi, Peter de Arambol and Jimmy, musician James Vaz and projection manager Nagesh. The team has expressed their joy at such an overwhelming response from the audience in the United Kingdom.
Starting from July 20, the shows are scheduled at Sudbury Primary School hall in Sudbury, Villiers High School hall in Middlesex and Meca hall in Swindon. “After the last show on July 22, we were supposed to go on a sight-seeing tour but as all the three shows were houseful and many were left without tickets, our team decided to put up one more show on July 23 at Patidar Hall on London Road in Wimbley. We were overwhelmed
by this response and really didn’t want to disappoint the people of UK,” said Pradeep Naik, one of the
actors.
Pradeep who is working with the department of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, briefed. “All of us would not mind to sacrifice the downtime and perform an extra show as we have come here to entertain the tiatr lovers in UK,” adding, “the weather in UK is nice and clear, with temperature around 31 degrees. Many Goans work here at various places including the airport. We are thankful to Goan organisers such as Tony Gonsalves who have taken a keen interest to bring Goan tiatr to UK. And we should be glad that Goan Tiatr lovers in this country spare their time and money to watch and preserve this Goan traditional culture.”
The story of ‘Konnak Patieupachem’ (whom to trust?) is weaved around the concept of old age homes. Pradeep’s role is that of an old childless person who is compelled to spend his last days in an old age home. He used to curse his fate that he didn’t have children but when he sees that those who have children are also forced to live in the old age home, he realises that there is no point in cursing. The tiatr points out to the naked truth that irrespective of the fact whether a person has or does not have children, he may be destined to live in an old age home. Having children does not guarantee a parent that their would take care of them in their old age.
