Relief activities through Street play in Northern Part of Srilank

 

Relief activities through Street play in Northern Part of Sri lanka

T.Thevananth,M.A&M.Sc.
(atmtheva@yahoo.co.uk)

Active Theatre Movement,Jaffna,Sri lanka

 

 

The burden carried in the people’s heart in Northern part of Sri lanka due to the last three decades war. They have forgotten their own image due to heavy pressure brought on them. They buried their burdens deeply in their hearts and wandering about with a dry face, as it they have no life in them. This situation predicts inactiveness in future. They are unable to lay down their burdens through fear. Due to fear they have to keep their mouths shut as if they are wearing a mask and live in silence. The aim of street play is to break their silence and make them happy by laughing, speaking, crying and shouting. This street play gives relief to masses with heavy hearts by their activities.

The people who congregate will spend a few hours happily like those who are in hot sun taking shelter under a shady tree. The stage is actually giving relief to those affected by mental stress.

The spectators of this drama face severe problems having got entangled in the hands of war especially those struggling for their existence. The spectators will be about 200-250.The display will be suitable to both children and elders, as a first step the actors will introduce themselves to the audience. It is very necessary to state clearly who are they ,from where they have come and the purpose of performing the play. Due to the situation prevailing in north of sri lanka each person has no confidence in the other. It could be seen that the people do not have faith on each other. Selfishness, neglecting others have increased. it cannot be said whether overlooking all these will trust on the actors. Even then the first step will be introducing themselves to the audience.

The play start with actors entering the settlements of people clad in dresses of various colours. They will go from hut to hut ,speak to families, introduce themselves and invite and invite them to witness the play ,whilst doing this it is the children who first join them. whilst  going accompanied by children, they will go round and round to rhythm of musical instruments and have a chat, Thereafter they will invite all to the place under the tree which had already been arranged. Finding a shady tree suitable to conduct the play will be the most important task. Under the present situation it is it is not possible to make use of the entire evening in north part of sri lanka .Therefore it has become necessary to use of afternoon time when the sun is hot. For this it is necessary to find a shady place. The idling village or settlement will become glamorous as the performers enter beating drums loudly. This situation will prevail until the play is over. Before the spectators congregate under the shady tree, they join the children and actors and play. Mostly rural games are played.
The elders become more lively by waiting the play. They will be surprised, astonished and emotionally aroused. At this emotional environment, all the spectators will get together. After this an outline of an emotional play will be introduced. The introductory play will lead to the shady tree where the main performance is to be take place. The dialogue of this play will express the main theme of intention. The main points will be obtained consequent to discussion about the tribulations faced by the masses. The subjects will be those embedded in the hearts of the people.

They may not be able express their feelings through fear. The main intention of the performers is to identify problems buried in their hearts and to bring it out as the main topic. If this is perfectly achieved, the audience will break their silence and lay down the agonies they are undergoing .The dialogue will be in the form of discussion. There will be antagonists and protagonist in the play. Particularly a portion of the play will be antagonists towards the audience .These characters will be in a leading position. Whereas another section of the characters will be representing the audience .The spectators will then be the main actors. The interaction between the two sections will be the play .This will motivate the audience to take part in the play. This will make them to consider their problems and take action to overcome it.

 At the play when those who represent the spectators loose their effectiveness of their roles, the spectators will take their places. The antagonists will then talk straight to the audience, ask questions, cast aspersions, praise them, threaten the audience, bring pressure on the audience to listen to them. This method will encourage the audience to speak. In some instances al will speak whilst in some other instances few will speak and the others will show their support by clapping their hands. This situation will show that all have been made to speak.

The play will come to an end by audience chasing the antagonists away from the place .It is their wish to chase the antagonists. When this is finalised they will be in happiness. It will be chasing the antagonist from the minds of those who are pressed with traumatic stress. There will be much relief at this stage. After the play each actor will speak to the spectators standing under the tree. Some will dance and sing with children. Some will disclose the traumatic stress they are undergoing to the actors. The actors will then console the spectators during the one hour spent under the shady tree. Some will cry and come out with their mental stress. Some will come out with information which they have not disclosed earlier to anyone. Some will come out openly with their desires and hates. It could be observed that people have got implicit fait in the actors.

 The audience get an impression that the performers take an interest in their problems, thereby they place all their grievances before the actors and performers. It will be advisable for the mental health counsellors and the actors meet together. Unwritten plans and open air theatre desires talented actors. When talented actors are found this stage will continue to thrive. This is possible by continued action. The place under the tree has strength, beauty, wrath, peace etc.This could be realised by persons who face problems in their daily life.