John Claro

John Claro
Fernandes at the Kala Academy, 2015
Born
Joao Claro Fernandes

(1930-12-05)5 December 1930
Died18 August 2024(2024-08-18) (aged 93)
Quepem, Goa, India
Nationality
    • Portuguese
      (until 1961)
    • Indian (from 1961)
Occupations
  • Writer
  • theatre director
  • playwright
  • actor
  • consultant
Years active1940s–2005
(theatre)
Known forResearch on the history of inaugural tiatr production
Notable workPortuguez Kolvont
Spouse
Piedade Afonso
(m. 1970)
Children3
RelativesAgostinho Fernandes (brother)
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award (2023)

John Claro Fernandes (born Joao Claro Fernandes; 5 December 1930 – 18 August 2024) was an Indian writer, theatre director, playwright, and actor known for his work in tiatr productions. Throughout his extensive career, he has made crucial contributions to the development and advancement of Goan tiatr. His noted research on the history of tiatr led to the discovery that the inaugural tiatr production, titled Italian Bhurgo, took place on 17 April 1892, at the New Alfred Theatre in Bombay (now Mumbai), presently occupied by the Police Commissioner headquarters.