An Open Stage

“The idea is to present plays that are entertaining,yet talk of socially relevant issues. The performance evokes an immediate response,’’ says Kamal Tewari,chairperson of the Akademi,adding that a street theatre festival attracts an audience that does not,otherwise,attend plays in halls.

The challenge of entertaining an active audience on the street can be heady. “When you perform in an auditorium,you are catering to a certain class of audience. But in a nukkad natak,your reach is amazing,as is the immediate response and reaction of the audience,” says Chakresh Kumar,who is presenting Gagan Da Mama Bajiyo,a play that focuses on ideologies of Bhagat Singh and Mahatma Gandhi. Another play,on social awareness,is called Jab Jago Tabhi Savera.

Directors Rajeev Mehta and Gaurav Sharma say that they cannot stay away from presenting nukkad natak. In fact,all eight directors staging their plays as part of this festival have been performing street theatre in the cities and villages of Punjab for decades. “Street theatre is a tool for change and communication,” says Sahib Singh,who will present his play Samaj,on issues related to women.

“Street theatre goes beyond performance. We give space to our audience to share their concerns,let them step on stage to change a part of the action,or share their story with us. I wish the government would use the medium of street theatre to understand the problems of rural areas,” says Kumar.