Nagpur’s theatre scene is facing a silent crisis as stage designing - an essential craft that brings stories to life on stage - continues to decline due to lack of proper theatres, training institutes and young talent. Experts say the art form, which creates the visual world of a play, is slowly losing attention of new generation. Stage design plays a key role in setting the mood and environment of a drama. It includes everything from furniture and curtains to painted backdrops, props, and structural elements. Experts believe that without better infrastructure, training facilities and fresh interest from youth, stage designing in the city may continue to struggle despite its rich creative potential. Director-designer Satish Kalbande explained, “Stage design begins with the script.

 

We study the story, create sketches and models, and then prepare technical drawings before construction. Every element on stage helps the audience understand the setting.” He added that designers divide the stage into zones and carefully plan movement and structure. Traditionally, wooden panels known as box sets are used to recreate spaces like homes and offices. However, theatre director-designer Swapnil Bohate pointed out a shift in style. “Stage design in the city is moving from detailed box sets to minimal and symbolic structures. Today, we use levels and simple elements to suggest a setting rather than fully recreate it,” he said. Both experts highlighted that, unlike bigger theatre hubs, Nagpur lacks specialisation.

 

“Here, one person handles both design and construction, which limits creative growth,” Bohate noted. A major problem is the absence of dedicated drama theatres, known as Natya-Gruhas. Instead, most performances take place in multipurpose auditoriums, which are not designed for theatre. “We have been requesting the Government for years to build proper theatres. Current hall rents are too high for small drama groups,” Kalbande said. The lack of training institutes is another challenge. Aspiring designers must travel to cities like Mumbai, Pune, or Delhi to learn the craft. “Young people are more interested in acting and direction. Technical fields like stage design and lighting are being ignored,” Bohate added.