Article on Kannada - Canada Theatre

Today the city of Bangalore is going through a lot of changes; some sudden and some gradual. In its journey from a pensioner’s paradise to the silicon valley of India, Bangalore has established itself as the new home for innovators and investors from around the world. In fact India is today recognized by this city only, on the global map. Taking advantage of this burgeoning process of globalization is one educational institution Christ college, Bangalore. Christ College along with theatre and development, Concordia University, Canada, Teesri Duniya Theatre, Canada and Park Extension Youth Association, Canada successfully organized a workshop for the students from Canada as well as from Christ College. The workshop aimed at making an attempt to comprehensively explore the relation between art and activism. Theatre-In-Education, Bangalore, carefully structured this intensive workshop that gave the members of the Christ college street theatre team, Drishti, CSA and the Canadian students an opportunity to collectively investigate on the topic of human rights with the help of Street Theatre. The workshop kick-started with an International Human Rights Film Festival on the 11th of December, through which the students were introduced to the theme. The students also worked with eminent professionals from the field of Street Theatre during this workshop. At the end of the workshop students successfully came up with two productions on the theme of water and women’s issues. Bangalorians in fact also got to witness these street plays when the ‘Canada-Kannada’ street play group performed at a few college campuses and at a few public locations like Forum Mall and Raheja Arcade on the 27th and performed at Hoskote on the 28th. The students that participated in this unique student exchange program strongly believe that street theatre is a very effective as well as an artistic tool to address issues in any part of the world. And according to the students, as this globalization process makes issues of various countries issues of the world; such student exchange programs should be heavily encouraged. And now the Canadians will confidently take back what they have learnt and experienced on Indian streets to address their local issues.

By Surekha

well....well....well....something to go on with...

well just when we think there is nothing more to do and begin to wounder how do we spend our free time something come our way......well most of us are happy,though some of us feel that its time we concentrate on our studies.But as usual we the street theater group is soooo used to being busy that free time makes us think we are useless people unless we have our exam's coming up round the corner...oke oke lets come back to the work i was talking of...now the new thing is all about the up coming IN BLOOM fest in Christ college as we all know it is the most awaited fest among all the other college fests but whats new is that this year we are having a theater fest also included and its both the proscenium and street theater... it going to be healed in the Christ college campus on the 17th of January. We just got to know about it and the whole team is looking really enthusiastic planning lots putting all sort of ideas onhow to make it a lasting and memorable event.... just to give an example we thought we would dress like jokers and go around colleges in cycles announcing or we would have people beating the tamte all dressed colourfully and many such ideas....... its the first of its kind in college and all of us are looking forward to it** you see we love what we do and we love doing it in such a way that everyone is left with a long lasting memory of it...............that lady's and gentle men is drishti.....

Rolling stones gather no moss: Catching up with the Street Theatre Team

Posted by centreforsocialaction on December 30th, 2006

They had a very busy schedule right from September, starting with participating in the ‘De-addiction week’ along with the Department of Psychology. The volunteers underwent very rigorous practice sessions in the mornings and evenings.
Unlike the usual way of performing on streets, the team, performed on a real stage when they represented our college at the National Biblical, Catechetical and Liturgical Centre (NBCLC) conference held on the fourteenth of November. The play, Portraits of an Epoch showcased imbibing ideas from the gospels of the Bible. Despite the fact that most among the team were non-Christians, the participants claimed it to be a very novel and interesting experience. Besides, the play was widely appreciated at the conference.

On 15 November, Mr. Anil Pinto from the Department of Media Studies conducted an interactive session on The origin of theatre and How it became a popular form of art. “It was nothing like a seminar. Mr. Pinto captured our attention with his unique style of presentation and it was very lively”, opined Vandana, one of the participants.

Portraits of an Epoch was performed yet again at the National Law School Inter-Collegiate festival. They also represented Christ College at the Street Play Competition held at R V College of Engineering, Bengalooru.

The Street Theatre volunteers also found time to conduct a Theatre Workshop for the students of St.Josephs Indian High School on 18, 19, 25 and 26 November.

Both the Kannada and English teams worked hard for the prestigious Bengalooru Habba. They modified the above mentioned play and performed at the Habba from 3rd to 8th December. “ It was a once in a life time opportunity and we actually performed on the streets, even at night and also on open canters-something which we never even dreamt we would be doing” says Mijula a volunteer of the Street Theatre.

On 9th December, CSA celebrated Christmas in the Norwegian style and also formally inaugurated the collaborative Workshop with a Canadian theatre group for the selected 12 volunteers from the team. Having started on the 11th the workshop was held in association with Theatre In Education (Christ College). The main theme was ‘Human Rights’ under which they focussed on – ‘Water’ and ‘Women issues’.

The Street Theatre team worked in co-ordination with the College Choir and a dance team (headed by cultural co-ordinator Mr. Prasanna) and performed Portraits of an Epoch as part of the College Christmas celebrations.
Phew! A great way to end a year, wasn’t it?

Any Idea what STREET THEATRE IS ?

Street theatre is a form of theatrical performance and presentation in outdoor public spaces without a specific paying audience. These spaces can be anywhere, including shopping centres, car parks, recreational reserves and street corners. They are especially seen in outdoor spaces where there are large numbers of people. The actors who perform street theatre range from buskers to organised theatre companies or groups that want to experiment with performance spaces, or to promote their mainstream work.
Sometimes performers are commissioned, especially for street festivals, children's shows or parades, but more often street theatre performers are unpaid or gather some income through the 'dropping of a coin in a hat' by the audience.
The logistics of doing street theatre necessitates simple costumes and props, and generally there is little or no amplification of sound, with actors depending on their natural vocal and physical ability. This issue with sound has meant that physical theatre, including dance, mime and slapstick, is a very popular genre in an outdoor setting. The performances need to be highy visible, loud and simple to follow in order to attract a crowd.
Street theatre should be distinguished from other more formal outdoor theatrical performances, such as performances of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream in a garden, where there is a discrete space set aside (or roped off) and a ticketed, paying clientele who come to see the show.
In some cases, street theatre performers have to get a licence or specific permission through local or state governments, in order to perform.
Street theatre is arguably the oldest form of theatre in existence, most mainstream entertainment mediums can be traced back to origins in street performing. More recently performers who, a hundred years ago, would have made their living working in variety theatres, music halls and in vaudeville, now often perform professionally on the many well-known street performance areas throughout the world.
One of the most interesting points about modern street theatre is its unique sociopolitical place. People who might not have ever been to, or been able to afford to go to the "legitimate" theatre can watch a street show, by virtue of where the shows take place, their audience is made up of anyone and everyone who wants to watch. If an audience member can't afford it, then it's free

Five Principles for Happiness in 2007

by David Bac
Tuesday, January 2, 2007

The arrival of the new year marks a symbolic time for fresh starts. Many of us take it as an opportunity to set goals, contemplate decisions, and renew commitments. It's special because of the revitalized sense of hope it brings.
Before you make your New Year's resolutions for 2007, I'd like to share some thoughts about how it's never too late to start living a rich life.
The Live Rich Factor
Most people believe that if they just had more money, the things that make them unhappy would disappear and their lives would be better. The truth is that your life can be better without more money. It can be better today, but you need to make some decisions and take some actions.
You don't need me to tell you what will make you happy -- only you know that truth.
I believe each of us has the power to discover our purpose and become joyful in the process of journeying toward that purpose. It's not easy, however. Nothing important and meaningful ever is.
What you need to do is create what I call the "Live Rich Factor" in your life. I call it this because those who find the purpose that leads them to joy are truly the luckiest people in the world, because they're living richly.
There are five basic principles involved in creating your Live Rich Factor:


Principle 1: Give Yourself a Break


We all tell ourselves the story of the one that got away. You can't move forward if you spend time focusing on what you shoulda-woulda-coulda done in 2006 or before. It's over, and its time to move on. The fastest way I know to do this is to write all of your regrets down on paper.
Make a list of all your personal and financial if-onlys. For example, "If only I had saved more money. If only I hadn't quit that job. If only I hadn't taken the job I have." You get the idea.
After reading the list aloud to yourself, get rid of it. Let it all go by literally burning the list (safely). Now you're ready for a fresh start in 2007 -- a new beginning.

Principle 2: Get Connected with Your Truth

The hardest thing to do is be honest with yourself. Asking yourself some key questions will lead you to some amazing discoveries, and possibly motivate you to do what it takes to create the life you envision for yourself.
I suggest writing your (honest) answers to the following questions in a new journal for the new year:
What makes you happy at work?
What makes you happy at home?
What makes you happy with your friends and family?
What makes you happy when you're by yourself?
What do you love to do?
What would you do with your life today if you weren't afraid of failure?
What's not working in your life?
What are you currently doing that prevents you from experiencing joy?
What's working in your life?
Who's not working in your life?
Who in your life is subtracting value from and adding misery to it?
Can you fix any of these relationships, or should you let them go from your life?
What relationships are working in your life?
If we were getting together one year from today, what would have to happen for you to be able to tell me that you now have more joy in your life?
What's the single most important thing you've learned about yourself as a result of answering these questions?
You'll find that by putting your answers down on paper, they'll become clear more quickly and the actions you need to take more obvious and easier to initiate.

Principle 3: Stop Judging Yourself

Be nicer to yourself in 2007. Many people talk to themselves in a way they would never accept from a stranger, friend, or loved one. If this describes you, try stopping the negative conversations you have with yourself immediately.
For one week, simply commit to saying "stop it" when you think a negative thought about yourself. If you're in the habit of saying negative things to yourself, you'll find this is one of the most difficult exercises you'll ever do. Carry a notepad with you and make a mark each time you catch yourself thinking negatively. You'll find that as the days go by, your negative thinking can quickly be reduced.

Principle 4: Stop Judging Others

It's hard to be joyful when you're always judging others. In fact, it's close to impossible. Judging others creates a huge amount of stress in our lives. It affects our marriages and our relationships with our kids as well as the way we relate to friends, co-workers, and society in general.
We're not here to judge one another.
The next time you find yourself upset at someone or some situation, catch yourself and ask, "Are you judging?" Judging others is often an unconscious habit. But it's a habit that can be changed the moment you decide to stop doing it.
Principle 5 : Pursue Fun with a Vengeance
It's OK to pursue fun. It's what children do. My greatest joy these days is the simple pleasure of playing with my three-year-old son, Jack.
This holiday season with Jack taught me the simple power of pursuing fun -- again and again. What was fun for Jack this Christmas? It turns out it wasn't the Big Wheel that my wife, Michelle, and I stayed up so late building on Christmas Eve. And it wasn't the Star Wars Lego toy (although he was pretty excited about that).
Instead, what Jack found the most fun was a new game I made up to keep him entertained. The game was called Geronimo -- and it involved Jack jumping from the bed onto a stack of pillows yelling "Geronimo!" This silly little game ended up bringing us both hours of fun. The price of the game: nothing. The fun: priceless. And the laughs? Endless.
Why do we stop pursing fun as we get older? Fun shouldn't be squeezed into a few weeks of vacation each year. And it shouldn't be squeezed into the last chapter of your life when you "get to" retire. Fun deserves to be a part of your life now -- in 2007.
But fun doesn't just happen. You have to make it a priority in your life or it'll go missing. Life's too short to not have it.
So here's to a fun, happy, and healthy New Year. Cheers!

Gospel Play Photos

- by the Canadians

A FAIRWELL FAIRYTALE

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away there lived 3 princesses- Princess Greeny, who was said to be as precious as an emerald and the 2 twin princesses, Neha the first who had an enchanting rythm and Neha the second, a fiery goddess. They also had a sibling, Prince jaison, who was a caring brother to them all.

The time had come for the Grand Majestic Ball organised by the world renowned event planner, Jaikumar. Only the most distinguished guests were invited from all over the kingdom, notables such as Sir Subu, Sir Rajesh and Sir Omesh - all well trained in the art of theatre.

The festivities were opened by Vandana, the excited trumpeteer, First there was an inspiring speech given by Surekha, the great thinker. Then Mijula followed with words full of poetic kindness. After dinner, Shiv and Sid got everyone warmed up with a lively dance. Oh yeah, and a bunch of Canadians crashed the party too! No worries though.

Under the quiet gaze of Chandru, the Man in the Moon, the laughter, singing and celebration went on late into the night,

The kingdom awoke the next morning when Teju, the sun goddess, opened her big heart and smiled to summon a new day. All the people rejoiced and felt blessed to be surrounded by such good friends and memories!

And they lived happily ever after and visited all their canadian friends in Montreal!