It was one of the future plans of the Roerich family to build a cultural centre in their Estate. Thus, it was decided to construct an open air theatre on a huge lawn, which wasn’t utilized, and was rather an eyesore on the way to the Urusvati Institute, looking shabbily and used for local kids to play there.
The whole site was evened and cleared of all bushes and rubbish collected there for years.
The architectural project of the Theatre has been prepared by Sh.Duni Chand, Architect from Manali, who personally supervised the whole further construction.
First marking of the construction site has been done on 17.8.2004.
18 wooden pillars with beautiful decorations and ancient Indian symbols were carved by Kullu artisans. Valeryi Lipenkov, artist and professional wood-carver, who was at the IRMT at this time, helped them a lot, improving their carving skills and adding to the beauty of the overall carving work – we are extremely grateful to him for his self-dedicating work.
Simultaneously another project took place in this site – construction of three levels for placing there ancient memorial stones (see – Memorial Stones).
Thus the whole site became transformed in front of our eyes.
There was absolute time constrain and dead line to the construction of the Theatre – 30th October, 2004, when State level function, Svetoslav Roerich Centenary Celebration was supposed to take place on the Theatre scene.
Thanks only to the utmost self dedicating work of a few workers of the IRMT it was possible to do this task. Thus, Sheru Baba, Cultural organizer of the Trust, perhaps can’t even count how many nights were spent by him on the construction site, supervising the work and joining each and every work needed.
Even our friends – artists from Russian Folk group ‘Yarmanka’ who came from faraway Siberia to perform during Dussehra festival in Kullu, and during Svetoslav Roerich Centenary celebrations in Delhi and Naggar, were seen laboring on the roof of the Theatre the very first night after arriving from Delhi… while the girls from the group were stitching the background curtain…
The last slate was placed on the Theatre roof at 9 am on 30th October…
And so – the cultural program of the international function was held on newly built stage.
Honorable Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, Sh.Virbhadra Singh who was the Chief Guest of the function, appreciated the carving work of the Theatre and gave suggestions for some additional works to be done later.
Further, an image of Goddess Saraswati – the Protectress of Art and Knowledge was carved by local artist and placed in front of the triangle wooden portion.
All other wooden works (roofing, scene platform etc) were completed by April, 2005.
At the back side of the theatre are two spacious green rooms for the artists, each room with attached bathroom. Final works are going on there now. Above the green rooms is one big store room.
However, for need of funds, theatre still lacks sound and light system, so necessary for full-fledged performances.
— Svetoslav Roerich's centenary celebration — State level function,
30th October 2004
— 70th Anniversary of the Roerich Pact and the Banner of Peace,
15th April 2005
— Performance of Shimla State Broadcasting Department group,
26th June 2005
— Annual Nicholas Roerich Birthday celebration,
09 October 2005
— Celebration of Helena Roerich Birth Anniversary,
12 February 2006
