The Curtain Raiser (Drama Club)

The Curtain Raiser, the Drama Club of the department, was incepted in 2021 and it functions under Dr. Jeetumoni Basumatary and Dr. Imsuchila Kichu as faculty coordinators. The club aims at identifying, nurturing and honing the potential of students for scriptwriting, designing costumes, sets and props, directing and performing for the stage. The club also intends to use the medium of theatre as a platform to foster life skills in students like communication skills, leadership, teamwork, discipline, creativity, confidence and empathy, thereby, preparing them for the bigger stage in life. 

Students of the department become members of the club through an open audition and they continue to remain members till they finish their course of study. Every year a fresh intake of students from the first semesters of UG and PG are auditioned and inducted into the club. The members of the club participate in various events and competitions both within and outside of the university. While students are encouraged to produce their own original work, the club also conducts workshops and lectures by roping in theatre professionals from time to time. The club intends to have a full length play production as an annual event of the university and also organize drama competitions in the future. 

Activities of the club
1.    Members of  The Curtain Raiser represented the Department of English in the Varsity Week 2022 and performed a skit titled “Waiting for Poriborton” (Waiting for Change) in association with the Cotton University Drama Society. The play was conceptualised by Panaa Priyam Das the script was written jointly by Debajani Kashyap and Deepjyoti Deka. 
2.    In 2023 Varsity Week, the club performed a One – Act play titled “Kitty Party” an adaptation of Caryl Churchill’s 'Top Girls'
3.    “Kitty Party” was staged, once again, on the occasion of International Womens’ Day celebrations by the Department
4.    An Interactive Session with Mr. Sattayakee D’com Bhyuan, an alumnus of the Department of English and member of the Shakespeare Society of the erstwhile Cotton College, was held on 24th May 2023.