Friends reunite at School of Drama campus with 'Actors' cafe'

Thrissur: When these four friends could not find new opportunities in doing theatres and acts during the time of the Covid pandemic, they tried out something very different and new to them. They started a canteen named ‘Actors' Cafe’ on the campus where they studied. The four friends completed their MA from the School of Drama on Aranattukara campus here. 

Deshamangalam native P Sivaprasad, Vadakara native N P Shinil, Chalakudy native K P Yogesh and Chavakad native Biresh Krishna are the ones who started the cafe around four months back. The name ‘Actors' Cafe’ has now turned into a banner and they have played two dramas under this banner so far. 

The drama ‘1974 Lookout Notice’ played by them got selected among the best 25 amateur dramas by Sangeetha Nataka Akademi. It was presented on many stages including the Akademi theatre. Their second unnamed drama is also set to premiere soon. 

In the canteen, they prepare food, serve and clean all by themselves. Their friend Satheesh Pulika also helps them out occasionally. They serve biriyani on Wednesdays and Ghee rice and chicken curry on Fridays. Fish and eggs are served on all days. They make around Rs 8,000 per day. 

Sivaprasad and Shinil are recipients of the Diamond Jubilee Fellowship for Aspiring Artists from the Kerala government. Shinil is an actor at the Kalidasa Kalakendra in Kollam. Yogesh is an MTA, MBA graduate and mime instructor. He is also a part of the catering company. 

MTA and MPhil graduate Biresh Krishna is an actor at the ‘Nireeksha’ drama group in Thiruvananthapuram and play director of the cult group at University of Calicut.