TURA: Artists from the A’chik Theatre will present an evolved play Dukon-II at the district auditorium on Friday evening, in which entry is open to all.
Organised by the North East Zone Cultural Centre, Dimapur and the Department of Arts and Culture in association with A’chik Theatre, the play has been designed, concept and directed by Pabitra Rabha, an alumni of the National School of Drama, New Delhi.
The play is co-directed by Balsrame A Sangma, who recently passed out from Sikkim’s National School of Drama.
The play depicts the changing scenario of the lives of the young and old generation in which the former longs for modern pleasures while the latter muse on earlier times.
The name ‘Dukon’ is based on the mystical plant, known to reside in the Garo Hills. The Garos believe that if anyone steps on the plant they would lose their way and drift throughout the world aimlessly.
Dukon-II is being presented at the end of a fifteen day workshop that gave an opportunity for students and young dropouts to tap their hidden talent.
“Theatre is a powerful tool of self expression that has been used since ancient Greek period and it continues to thrive around the world to this day. It teaches discipline, commitment, the ability to shed any inhibitions and be completely immersed in the character one is portraying which in turn develops empathy. It also stimulates creativity as one becomes more aware of issues around us,” informed A’chik Theatre president Jameswarth Ch Sangma.
He informed that during the 15-day non-residential workshop, participants learned about various technical aspects of theatre and also acknowledged the impact it can have on oneself and society.
“In smaller towns people tend to be more reserved in terms of performance art but with this workshop they have equipped with right guidance and support and we hope that it would inspire more people to pursue theatre” said Sangma.
Du-kon II is the second drama presented by the A’chik Theatre, an amateur theatre group whose primary objective is to derive articulation of talent amongst youth so that they have a space for positive creativity and recreation even in times of socio-political unrest.
The theatre-in-education wing of the A’chik Theatre, Khil-Khilai, is a training institute where children are taught acting and dancing amongst other activities. Its main objective is to help children discover their creativity, both physically as well as mentally, in order to help them absorb the cultural richness of traditions.
