Mysuru:  A two-day National Seminar on ‘Modern Education and Training in Performing Arts,’ organised as part of World Theatre Day by Music University, in association with the Dept. of Kannada and Culture, began this morning at the Varsity premises on JLB Road.

About 100 faculty members and students are attending the seminar which features deliberations on research in theatre, correlation between theatre and music, growth of theatre in old Mysuru, children theatre, women theatre and relevant topics.

Inaugurating the programme by beating the ‘Nagari,’ Director of National School of Drama (NSD), Bengaluru, C. Basavalingaiah contended that performing arts were live unlike movies.

He opined that subject was very important in a play. He further said that valuable comments could be passed on by critics in theatre which can be incorporated in subsequent shows which is not that easy in movies.

However, he regretted that theatre artistes were getting lured to TV and movies. Hence he suggested incorporating modern technology and education in theatre to evolve a new look.

Music University VC Dr. Sarvamangala Shankar presided. Art critic Dr. M. Suryaprasad was the chief guest. Registrar V. Nagesh Bettakote, Registrar (Evaluation) Dr. R. Rajesh, Finance Officer H.N. Gayatri, Rangayana Jt. Director V.N. Mallikarjunaswamy, Theatre artiste Mandya Ramesh, critic Shashikanth Yadalli, violinist Mysore Manjunath and artiste Tulsi Ramachandra were present.