Theatre with its appeal and art has always been the most important element in mouthing the unspoken. Considered as one of the tradition of Indian culture, theatre since ages depicted the abundant tradition of the land. Right from the ancient days till the modern times theatre happens to be one of the celebrated art form in India. Although the history of Indian theatre goes back to the mythological or the Vedic era yet it is during and after the medieval period theatre in India gained its redefined structure. It is with the structure and set up of the Indian theatre stages, Indian theatre gained that desired boost.
However, the Indian theatre stages didn`t initiate within one day. The deep seated relation with folk drama forms like Kabigan Kirtan and Baul songs, Chhau , Gajan , Jatra and Paalaagaan, which were then mainly performed in open grounds paved the way of setting up Indian theatre stages. The journey of Indian theatre stages was thus long, yet rich. The sound of the orchestra, the rich - red- ruddy illumination of those footlights and indeed the feel of the Indian theatre stages offered that contour to theatre whilst making it lot more contemporary. The famous Indian theatre stages amidst its pits, galleries and dias thus murmurs the tale of a changing tradition.
Indian theatre stages slowly became the platform to illustrate the unspoken whilst manifesting the realisms. Theatre which was once an artistic illustration of the varied aspects those were larger than life, gradually became lot more contemporary with the introduction of Indian theatre stages. Natya then broke the barriers of eposes and rasa leelas and became the weapon to free the world from the clutches of absolute corruption and exploitation. Change therefore came in every sphere, even in the designs of the Indian theatre stages.
The seed of contemporaneity which was sown in Indian theatre during the British rule gained a novel facet amidst the redefined structure of the Indian theatre stages during the independence of India. Stages then became lot more up to date to befit the requirement of the mass. In a land struggling for freedom, theatre then gave birth to a newer kind of concept to support in changing the destiny of the people. For the first time the Indian theatre stages matched with the requirement of the people`s theatre where the mass could easily identify them with the actors. Gone are the days of palagan and ram leela. Various Indian theatre stages like the Star theatre, Girish Mancha, theatre Royale, Olympia theatre, Strand theatre, Opera House were established to match with the criteria of the then society.
The presence of the Indian theatre stages brings forth the memories of the days long gone, the memorabilia of the success of theatre, as an art form.
