An open air theater named after P. Lankesh was inaugurated at Shivamogga on 14 March 2026. School Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa and others participated in the programme. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
An open-air theater built on the premises of Suvarna Samskruti Bhavana, from where Shivamogga Rangayana operates, was inaugurated on Saturday (March 14, 2026). The theater was named after journalist, storyteller and playwright P. Lankesh, a native of Shivamogga.
The theater was inaugurated by Minister for School Education Madhu Bangarappa, who is also the Minister for Shivamogga District. On this occasion, the Minister stated that his department is considering the introduction of theater as part of the curriculum in schools.
A separate residential school would be set up in Mysuru to educate children interested in theatre, music and folk arts. The Minister believed that the promotion of theater and other cultural activities among children would help realize the idea of Kuvempu to make children universal persons in the true sense.
Writer and journalist B. Chandre Gowda, who worked for Lankesh Patrike, expressed his happiness that the theater was named after Lankesh.
The open air theater was built when Sandesh Javali was the director of Shivamogga Rangayana, costing around ₹50 lakh. Work on the project was started by Ganesh M., a well-known theater director who was the director from 2017 to 2019. However, she did not take over his tenure. Mr. Ganesh and Sandesh Javali recalled their efforts in the program.
Tirthahalli MLA Araga Jnanendra, Chairman Nataka Academy Nagaraja Murthy, Director Shivamogga Rangayana Prasanna D., Administrator AC Shylaja and others were present.
After the inauguration ceremony, the senior artists of Mysuru Rangayana staged a play – Omme Hennaga based on the short stories of Booker Prize winning author Banu Mushtaq. The play was directed by Savitha Rani. Shashikala BN and Nandini KR presented the play.
Published – 15 March 2026 13:10 IST
