Building a Theatre of Resilience | Geographies: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi-NCR

Anyone who follows the news will be aware of the rampant sexual violence in our country. In such a climate, it is difficult for individuals from vulnerable communities to access legal and medical services. They often face isolation, shame and stigma within their own families and communities. Often, sexual violence is a strategy of power used against vulnerable communities by upwardly mobile and powerful perpetrators. Even if there is a  legal conviction, there are often repeat offenses.  In these cases, it is difficult for the survivor and her family to fight back for fear of physical safety, fear of losing livelihood and social boycott, amongst other concerns. Due to conservative social moralities, the blame often falls on the survivor herself, resulting in consequences such as lack of access to education, restrictions on her mobility, and early marriage. This takes a severe physiological and psychological toll on survivors in the aftermath of violence.

While much work has been done through legal redressal and crisis intervention, the social and moral dimensions of violence cannot be ignored. In the absence of a healing and nurturing space for individuals who have experienced violence and discrimination, the arts, particularly theatre, can play a very important emancipatory role. Theatre making is a process of catharsis, especially in contexts where the body has to process the aftermath of different forms of violence and discrimination. As a practice, theatre enables healing, processing, release and recovery, whilst simultaneously forging a sense of collaboration, community and togetherness.

The precedence for this work lies in a theatre making process with an intergenerational group of women from Madhya Pradesh. Having endured extreme forms of violence, making theatre resulted in healing and catharsis as well as increased self confidence, leadership capacities and agency for the women involved. It has also resulted in the formation of a theatre group, which is survivor led.

Maraa’s work over the next five years aims to:

  • Collaborate with various grassroots organizations across the country to host theatre making workshops with vulnerable communities, as  mode of healing, assertion, leadership building and seeking  justice.
  • Create performance (s) that can travel to various community contexts and provoke dialogue and discussion amongst communities on issues relating to discrimination, justice, violence, freedom etc.
  • Document the findings and publish a pedagogy for  ‘theater of resilience’ which can be adapted and used in various educational and  social contexts.