All Goa One-Act Play Competition in Konkani

What is the All Goa One-Act Play Competition in Konkani?

All Goa One-Act Play Competition in Konkani is scheme number 25 of the 41 schemes run by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG), an autonomous body of the Government of Goa under the Department of Art and Culture. TAG sets out the reasoning for the scheme in a single paragraph at the head of the rules: youth in Goa have tremendous potential to promote Goan culture, that talent needs to be tapped, and this competition gives young people ample opportunity to showcase their talent in dramatics.

The one-act play, a self-contained drama running under an hour: is a different form from the full-length tiatr that dominates the rest of TAG's scheme list. A tiatr under TAG's own definitions runs two to three hours with six or seven acts and at least four cantos. A one-act play under this scheme runs 35 to 45 minutes, follows the classical unities, and is judged on tight dramatic construction rather than on musical structure. It is the competition where a college drama group or a village club with a strong script but no live band can compete on equal terms.

What are the rules of the competition?

TAG fixes the shape of the competition closely.

• Duration: not less than 35 minutes and not more than 45 minutes (rule 2).
• Setting time: 15 minutes are given to each participating group for stage setting, light setting and similar arrangements (rule 10).
• Language and script: a typed copy of the one-act play in Roman script must be submitted with the application (rule 3).
• Minimum entries: at least 5 groups must participate for the competition to be organised at all (rule 5).
• Maximum entries: a maximum of 18 groups are permitted, on a first come, first served basis (rule 6).
• Dramatic form: unity of action, space and time shall be maintained (rule 16). This is the classical requirement of the one-act form and TAG makes it a binding rule rather than a stylistic preference.
• Order of performance: fixed by draw of lots (rule 9).
• Judging: a panel of judges evaluates the performance and their decision is final and binding on all participants (rule 11).
• Recording: TAG video records all plays for its library and its own uses (rule 8).

What do the winners get?

Under rule 13, three awards are given for best performance; first, second and third. Each award consists of:

• a memento
• certificates
• a cash amount as decided by TAG

TAG has not published a fixed rupee figure for these cash awards in the scheme document, so ask the TAG office for the amount applying to the current edition.

Under rule 14, eight individual awards are given, and these carry mementos only with no cash:

1. Direction
2. Male actor
3. Female actor
4. Background music
5. Stage setting
6. Light effects
7. Make-up
8. Script

Separately from the awards, rule 12 provides that TAG will reimburse the amount spent on transport of the participants as per RTO norms. That reimbursement goes to every participating group, not only to the winners, which materially lowers the cost of entering for a group travelling from outside Panaji.

Who can and cannot participate?

You can participate if:

• You are an individual, a club or an association. Rule 1 names all three.
• You are an educational institution, a sports and cultural association or an individual producer. These are the categories printed on the entry form.
• You can stage a Konkani one-act play running between 35 and 45 minutes.
• You have written permission from the writer of the play.
• You can furnish the Rs 1,000 refundable security deposit in cash or by demand draft.
• You hold an Aadhaar card and a PAN card, self-attested copies of which are compulsory under rule 17.

You cannot apply, or your entry will not stand, if you are not eligible on any of these counts:

• Your play runs under 35 minutes or over 45 minutes.
• You cannot produce the writer's written permission. Rule 4 requires it with the application.
• You submit a handwritten script instead of a typed copy in Roman script.
• You pay the security deposit by cheque. Rule 7 says cheques will not be accepted — only cash or a demand draft in favour of Member Secretary, Tiatr Academy of Goa, payable at Panaji.
• You apply after the 18 slots are filled. Entry is first come, first served.
• Your script, songs, performance or speeches carry adverse remarks against any government, individual or institution, or anything against caste, creed or religion that may hurt sentiments. Under rule 15, TAG may disqualify the performance and refuse payment or recall payment already made.
• You do not enclose self-attested Aadhaar and PAN copies.

How to apply for the All Goa One-Act Play Competition

1. Download scheme 25 from the Schemes of TAG page at tiatracademyofgoa.com. The PDF contains the full rules and the entry form.
2. Secure written permission from the playwright. Do this before you fill anything else in. Rule 4 requires the permission to be submitted with the application, and it is the single item most likely to hold up an otherwise ready entry.
3. Type the play in Roman script and print a copy for submission with the form, as required by rule 3.
4. Fill the entry form completely. It asks for the name of the educational institution, sports and cultural association or individual producer, address, contact number, email, Aadhaar number (copy enclosed), PAN number (copy enclosed), title of the one-act play, playwright, director, light effects, set designer, background music, costumes and make-up.
5. Arrange the Rs 1,000 security deposit in cash, or as a demand draft drawn in favour of Member Secretary, Tiatr Academy of Goa, payable at Panaji. Do not send a cheque.
6. Submit the form, the typed script, the writer's permission, the Aadhaar and PAN copies and the deposit together to the Tiatr Academy of Goa, AS-1, 2nd Floor, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panaji, Goa 403001 to early, because only 18 slots exist and they go first come, first served.
7. Attend the draw and note your slot. Date and time of performance are fixed by draw of lots. Once the schedule is drawn, do not withdraw, the full deposit is forfeited.
8. Plan for 15 minutes of setting time on the day, and for your play to run inside the 35 to 45 minute window.

How do I get my security deposit and transport money back?

The Rs 1,000 security deposit is refundable. It is forfeited in full only in one circumstance: if an applicant withdraws after the schedule is drawn by TAG (rule 7). A group that withdraws before the draw, or that performs as scheduled, gets the deposit back.

Transport reimbursement is settled as per RTO norms under rule 12, which means TAG works out the entitlement from the published Regional Transport Office rates rather than from your actual bills. Keep the vehicle details and journey particulars ready when you approach the TAG office to settle the claim.

What are the common reasons an entry fails?

• No written permission from the writer. Rule 4 is unconditional.
• A cheque instead of cash or a demand draft for the security deposit.
• A handwritten script. Rule 3 requires a typed copy in Roman script.
• Running short of 35 minutes or over 45 minutes on the day.
• Applying late, after the 18 slots are gone.
• Withdrawing after the draw, which forfeits the whole Rs 1,000.
• Missing Aadhaar or PAN copies, contrary to rule 17.
• Breaching rule 15 on content, in the script, the song lyrics, the performance or even a speech from the stage.

One further point catches out organisers: rule 5 means the competition itself is conditional. If fewer than 5 groups apply, TAG does not organise the competition that year.

TAG also reserves the right, under rule 18, to make any changes in the rules, so work from the current PDF on the Schemes of TAG page.

Where do I raise a grievance about this competition?

Contact the Tiatr Academy of Goa on 0832-2230738 (fax 0832-2230739) or by email at tiatracademy@gmail.com. The office is at AS-1, 2nd Floor, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panaji, Goa 403001.

Under the Right to Information Act, the Member Secretary of TAG is the Public Information Officer and the President of TAG is the First Appellate Authority. Rule 11 makes the judges' decision final and binding, so a grievance should be directed at process matters, an unrefunded deposit, an unsettled transport claim, an unacknowledged entry: rather than at the result.

Key facts to remember

• All Goa One-Act Play Competition in Konkani is scheme 25 of 41 run by the Tiatr Academy of Goa.
• Plays must run 35 to 45 minutes, in Konkani, with the script typed in Roman script.
• Minimum 5 groups for the competition to happen; maximum 18 groups, first come first served.
• A refundable Rs 1,000 security deposit is required, in cash or demand draft only.
• Unity of action, space and time must be maintained.
• Three cash awards with mementos, plus 8 individual mementos with no cash.
• Transport is reimbursed to all participants as per RTO norms.
• Withdrawing after the draw of lots forfeits the entire deposit.

How to check your application status

This competition runs entirely offline, so there is no portal login, tracking ID or SMS update to follow. There are four separate things you may need to check on, and each has its own real way to confirm status.

• Whether your entry was accepted and slotted in. TAG does not send a formal acknowledgement letter as a matter of course. Call the TAG office on 0832-2230738 a few days after you submit the form, script, permission letter, Aadhaar and PAN copies and the deposit, and ask the office staff to confirm your entry is on the list of the 18 groups. If you submitted close to when the slots are expected to fill, call sooner rather than later, since entries are accepted strictly first come, first served and TAG stops taking forms once 18 groups are in.
• Your performance slot and date. This is fixed only after the draw of lots (rule 9), so there is nothing to check before that. Once the draw has taken place, the office can confirm your group's date and order of performance over the phone, or you can visit the office at AS-1, 2nd Floor, Campal Trade Centre, Campal, Panaji.
• Your Rs 1,000 security deposit refund. Since the deposit is returned after your group has performed (or if you withdraw before the draw), follow up with the TAG office directly after your show, quoting your group's name and the date you performed. There is no online refund tracker; this is settled at the office, in person or by phone.
• Your transport reimbursement. Because this is calculated against RTO rates rather than paid automatically, you need to actively claim it after your performance. Contact the TAG office with your vehicle and journey details ready, and follow up by phone if the payment has not come through within a reasonable time.

If a call does not resolve things, put your query in writing by email to tiatracademy@gmail.com so there is a dated record, or raise it as a grievance with the Member Secretary as described above.