Theatre in Bengal, which began as an expression of humanizing the mass, within no time stood apart as an archetypal form of manifestation. In Bengal, theatre didn`t initiated within one day. Bengali drama has a deep seated relation with folk drama forms like Kabigan Kirtan and Baul songs, Chhau , Gajan , Jatra and even Paalaagaan, which were then mainly performed in open grounds of Bengal. These different performing art styles not only gave birth to the modish concept of Bengali theatre but paved the way for professional theatres and also ushered in the concept of establishing the theatre companies in West Bengal.
With the development of the various theatre companies in West Bengal, Bengali theatre gained that boost that it required. The major theatre companies in West Bengal teamed with the unorganised theatre groups then started illustrating the tears, agony, happiness and fears of million Bengalis. Just not the major theatre companies in West Bengal even the amateur theatre associations then aided in carrying Bengali drama to the next level of maturity whilst illustrating the modish aspects of Indian Natya in the most vibrant way.
Professional theatre companies in West Bengal started growing since 1795 and were taken into maturity by the awesome performance and illustrious conductors like Girish Ghosh, D.L Roy, Sisir Bhaduri, Ardhendu Mushtafi and others.
The major breakthrough in Bengali theatre occurred, however, with the introduction of the seed of communism in Bengali theatre. With the scaffolding of Nabanna, written by a communist playwright and actor Bijan Bhattacharya and with the establishment of the various theatre companies in West Bengal, and of course with the establishment of Theatre Association (IPTA). In 1942, Bengali theatre gained that desired contour whilst ushering in a new era of cultural awakening among the people of India. This was the time when the Bengali intelligentsia witnessed the enculturation in Indian theatre. Bohurupee, a prominent theatre group of West Bengal was formed to popularise this further. After Bohurupee there was a meteoric rise of other theatre companies in West Bengal. Bengali theatre was then in the pinnacle. Even today, the art form has not faded away. Some theatre companies like Swapna Sandhani, Chetana, Sundaram etc are being established to re-interpret and integrate the significant facts of people`s lives in the present epoch. The journey of theatre companies in West Bengal is thus long but is rich unfolding the rirch heritage of the changing traditions of Bengali theatre.
