The APOGEE English Press sat down with Aditya Joshi, the coordinator of the Department of Stage Controls (Backstage), for a short interview. 

Aditya said that during the fest, Backstage is involved with “anything and everything” that has to do with the Main Auditorium. This includes the scripting, scheduling and production of the Inauguration Ceremony. They work closely with the Department of Lights and the Department of Sounds, to ensure smooth conduction of all events of the Main Auditorium.  

He went on to say that this year Backstage is continuing with their tradition of building a structure, related to the theme of the fest. This time, they are building the Death Star from the Star Wars saga. Aditya revealed that the department had started working on the structure about three weeks before the fest. 

Talking about how the department has evolved since he joined it in his first year, he said that earlier the department was “facing extinction” due to very low recruitments typically during the COVID year. He said that he finds comfort in the fact that the department is thriving now, having seen full recruitments in the past two batches, and is now taking up new and more complex work. 

Talking about his work as the coordinator, Aditya said that he enjoys ‘conducting feats of strength’ like ‘wrestling matches’ amongst his juniors to decide the compère for the inauguration ceremony, among other responsibilities. Aditya also said that so far, he has not faced any hurdles in communicating with the CoStAA, except on issues relating to production. 

Concluding the interview, Aditya asked the BITSians to stay sober and have fun in the upcoming fest.