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Journalism of Courage
THE Children8217;s Theatre Festival of North Eastern States in May 2001 changed the way Bal Agrawal, co-founder of the National Institute of Performing Arts NIPA, looked at theatre.
8216;8216;There was an 11-year-old actor whose father had been gunned down by insurgents two days earlier. But there he was, onstage, acting the part of a boy who is waiting for a birthday present from his father, a soldier posted in Kargil. All he receives though is the news of his death. There wasn8217;t a dry eye in the audience that day,8217;8217; recounts Agrawal. The play convinced him of the therapeutic values of theatre. Agrawal decided that instead of organising theatre festivals for all ages, NIPA would be 8216;8216;singularly dedicated to children8217;s drama8217;8217;.
The variety naturally brings up a kaleidoscope of children8217;s perspectives from around the globe. Norway8217;s Teater Klubb 8217;81 will stage Marja Gullsko, the festival8217;s inaugural show on November 14. This story of a meeting between god and the devil, set in the Garden of Paradise, is told through a flower. Norwegian playwright Dramagruppe Suldal Kulturskule8217;s non-verbal musical Outside-Inside urges the audience to read society8217;s unwritten rules of conformation.
Unomthandazo Theatre Company from South Africa will bring a conventional love story a rich girl-poor boy tragedy, while in Momo, the German Stic-er Theater will showcase a tricky theme8212;8216;8216;enigma of time and space8217;8217;8212; based on a book by Michael Ende. The National Youth Theatre from Antigua will stage The Awakening, which tackles the metaphor of a high school girl8217;s dreams and regrets, underlining the importance of education.
Closer home, Dhaka8217;s Shatttwik Little Theatre talks about the true story of a boy afflicted by polio, while Ek Vishphot Hoga uncovers the tyranny of a king and queen who keep their subjects unhappy, so they won8217;t demand more. A play from Tezpur, Assam, by United Artist will conclude the festival on November 19.
8216;8216;Except different cultural presentations and the higher production values of foreign troupes, it8217;s amazing to see how themes are common to all. Most often, they are about social and political problems, old age, national issues and can be understood universally,8217;8217; says Agrawal. The variety of themes hasn8217;t prevented him from laying some ground rules. A scene from a Mexican play had a nude girl bathing on stage. 8216;8216;No sex, no nudity,8217;8217; Agrawal said, and banned the play.
It8217;s been a fulfilling journey for 69-year-old Agrawal, a High Court advocate who started NIPA with late friend PK Nandi in 1985. The duo organised festivals for troupes from the northeast. Agrawal was a part of his college drama society in Chapra, Bihar, and Nandi had acute literary inclinations. 8216;8216;Theatre is a unique personality-building tool. I wish we would not neglect children8217;s involvement in it,8217;8217; he says.
An affiliation with the International Amateur Theatre Association, headquartered in Estonia, has helped Agrawal run the show so far. Foreign participation is routed through this association. 8216;8216;Funds have always been tough to get. Souvenir sales help us. Thankfully, theatre still has many friends left,8217;8217; he says.
