The Experimental Theatre Foundation 14 years of Theatre of Relevance (1992-2005) (ETF)

Philosophy :: Ideology :: Activities

An Ethnographic study of Experimental Theatre Foundation”


Experimental Theatre Foundation, 373/ 18, Jal Tarang Society, Sector – 3, Charkop, Kandivali (w), Mumbai – 400 067. INDIA web-site: www.etfindia.org Tel No. 00-91-22-2868 7552 E-mail: etf@bom3.vsnl.net.in

The Experimental Theatre Foundation has completed 13 years of Theatre Activism (1992-2005). Founded in 1992 by Manjul Bhardwaj and like-minded people, Experimental Theatre Foundation practices the philosophy “Theatre of Relevance”.

“I see theatre as being relevant to the context of society and one that owes a social responsibility. It’s not just art for art sake but one that caters to human needs and provides itself as a platform for expression (statement).” ---- Manjul Bhardwaj

The organisation has gone through a journey from nukkads, remote interior of grassroots, tribal belts, villages, towns, slums of metropolitan cities, well known performing venues to the international arena through performances on streets, stage, workshop and innovative thought of “Theatre as medium of Change”.

Experimental Theatre Foundation is known as a theatre movement for social change.

Ponder upon the following:

1. Performed more than 25 plays on more than 15,000 times nationally and internationally.
2. Conducted more than 120 theatre workshops all over India and Germany in which more than 4000 potential theatre performers participated.
3. Initiated a novel concept of theatre workshop “ A career in Theatre”.
4. Explored theatre as a process to understand self, group and society.
5. Initiated a concept of Bal Natya Utsav by the children for the children and successfully completed 5 years. The event has been organised nationally. More than 1250 children performed 41 plays. The performances are held in Prithvi Theatre, Bal Bhavan, Karnatak Sangha and other esteemed Venues.
6. Initiated performances by the sufferer i.e. facilitated the exploited to express themselves.
7. Initiated staging of story.
8. Initiated play reading.
9. Rehabilitated 1000 children from labour to formal school directly and facilitating educational process of more than 7000 children indirectly.
10. Proved the thought “ Theatre as a medium of social change “
11. Initiated theatrical intervention with groups working for social development and influenced them to use theatre as a strategy for change.
12. Evolved and practiced the philosophy “ Theatre of Relevance”. A theatre forum was organised in Hannover, Germany : Titled : “ Theatre of Relevance” from 22.05 –25.05.2003 organised by BAG Spiel & Theater and Buro fur kultur und Medien projekte.

Current Activities

* Performances on stage (Theatre)
* Conduct workshop on Theatre (A Career In Theatre)
* Conduct workshop on Street Theatre

* Conduct workshop on Theatre As a Medium of Change
* Theatre as a strategy to eliminate child labour
* Performances on Street
* Conduct workshop on Theatre and its relevance to society
* Conduct workshop on Child Labour
* Documentation of scripts, theatrical processes and “Theatre of Relevance”

Fundamentals of the philosophy “Theatre of Relevance”

“Theatre of Relevance” philosophy is initiated & practiced by Manjul Bharadwaj since 12th August 1992.

Theatre of Relevance is:
A theatre
1. That is relevant to the context of the society and owes its social responsibility, not to Art just for the Art sake.
2. Which caters to human needs and provide itself as a platform for expression.
3. Which explores itself as a medium of change/development.
4. That comes out from the ' limits of entertainment ' to a way of living.
5. Which enhances itself from 'Art for the Art sake' to social concern and, become part of lives of the masses.
---- Manjul Bhardwaj

“I see theatre as being relevant to the context of society and one that owes a social responsibility. It’s not just art for art sake but one that caters to human needs and provides itself as a platform for expression (statement).”
---- Manjul Bhardwaj

“We in society recite the potential of Theatre, but very rarely experience a theatrical performance through direct participation. By being spectators of a play, we are impressed by a performance, but by directly participating in it, the experience & impression leads to a change in our personality attitude & value”.
---- Manjul Bhardwaj

SYNOPSIS OF SOME OF THE PLAYS STAGED BY ETF

DOOR SE KISINE AWAAZ DI: Written after the Bombay riots of 1992-1993, this play is a plea for communal, as well as a scathing indictment of a system where opportunists manipulate religious sentiments for political ends. Eventually it is common man who becomes helpless pawn in the unscrupulous machinations of power of politics. This play has been performed successfully more than 1000 times on stage as well as on street.

DEKHA – DEKHI: This play is a satire on consumerism i.e. how the media creates need, which are never being fulfilled.

AADAMI JO MACCHURA NAHIN THA: The play is about a story of a fisherman & the Queen Fish. The Queen Fish blesses the fisherman with Five wishes in response to save HER life.

DWANDWA: The Indian woman is either venerated, as a goddess or else pitied as a long –suffering victim figure. Despite the undeniable advent of more progressive attitudes towards gender roles in recent times, the oppression of women persists in subtle and not so- subtle ways. This play explores the issue of domestic violence the way in which the woman at home often finds herself in a far vulnerable position than in a hostile external world. This play has been performed more than 500 times on stage and street.

MERA BACHPAN: This play explores the issue of child abuse (Labour) and exploitation in its varied manifestations. The play has been performed more than 12,000 times, on street & stage, in different Indian languages all India and Germany. The shows are running till date.

ANDHON KA HAATHI: A political satire. A perception of elephant by five blind man.

NAPUNSAK: A socio – political satire through the life of eunuch.

MAIN AURAT HOON: Is an exploration of " Who am I"----------- a plunge into the tide of time across the land to " Womanhood -- the anguish & power, the strength & vulnerability of womanhood."

DOOSARA AADAMI – DOOSARI AURAT: Explores the issue of extra marital affairs.

RAHOGI TUM VAHI: A man’s model of development for a woman.

VIDYA DADATI VINAYAM: The play is about denial to access of education.

B –7: The play B-7 depicts the story of 7 birds that are facing a threat for their survival. The birds decide to form a fact-finding committee to list out the threats to their survival. This way they enter in the human world and expose the reality of today’s world. How the children are being deprived from their childhood and how the globalization “Who are you to decide about us” is affecting the children in the world. In the end the birds committee suggest the world to save childhood and humanity. This was premiered in Germany. It is being performed in English, Hindi & German.

DHUNDH: (Mist) is a play that explores the delicate and complex theme of child sexual abuse. It juxtaposes the world of vulnerable and innocent childhood with the world of predatory adulthood – two worlds that co-exist within the intimate framework of the family. How can we create a world of sensitive human beings capable of nurturing & protecting millions of defenseless children? At the close, the play invites the viewer to get involved, since no one in the drama of the real world can remain a mute spectator.

AAICHA PATRA: Aaicha Patra is a mother’s dream about nurturing her daughter amidst the changing socio- cultural value system. She wishes to empower her daughter to tackle challenges posed by conservative patriarchal society & appeals the teacher to help her (daughter) in this mission.

AB CHUP NAA RAHUNGI: In strife stricken Bhiwandi, Mumbai or Ahemdabad, a shattered voice of “Khairunnisa" speaks volumes on the ocean of sanity dwelling in the hearts of millions of our people. She can’t hold it any more --------- Ab Chup Naa Rahungi.

Laadli: A voice of countless unborn girl children…

REDLIGHT: Unfolds the sufferings, sorrows, pain, anguish, anger & exploitation of the victims of human trafficking.