Intimate Interactive Theater
Workshop
Date: 21st to 26th July
Place: BRC Shahapur
No of participants:
11 MRPs from Raichur(3), Gulbarga(3), Yadgir(5) ,and 10 development
youth volunteers from Madwar and Doranahalli cluster.
Resource person: Na.Srinivas.
Backgro
und for the workshop:
Intimate Interactive Theater is
one of the powerful theater based communication tool, which ultimately converts
spectator as spect-Actor and make him to express his" hidden stand"
on the Issues presented in the form of capsule like dramas.
The performance of Intimate
interactive theater will consist of three stages.
In the first stage, an issue
based drama capsule plot (based on mythic /non mythic/theatrical/non theatrical
characters) will be constructed, and performed (maximum 3 to 5 minutes with 3
to 5 actors) in an intimate theater atmosphere (small hall or small vacant
place which can accommodate around 30 to 40 spectators).
As the capsule plot presented
(with suggestive set, properties, costume, make-up,music and scenary) and
proceeds, the antagonist characters of the capsule issue (due to its stand
taken based on its belief and convictions) shows differences (verbally and non
verbally) with the stand taken by protagonist characters of the plot. And
conflict between both stands begins and affected character will put into
dilemma.
As the capsule develops,
antagonist(anti-issue) characters continues its effort to put pressure on affected
character to yield. protagonist characters also tries to convince affected
character to come into their way and
accept their stand on the issue.
Affected character of the
capsule, which is pushed into emotional and intellectual dilemma and finding
no-way to resolve, naturally asks for suggestions from the spectators,( who are
witnessing the plot event intimately and intensively), to show way for coming out from that crisis.
First stage of IIT ends here.
In the second stage, Spectators, who already
carried away with capsule plot and identified themselves emotionally with the
shown characters, unconsciously starts responding and suggest solutions for the
protagonist crisis according to the stands and sides taken by them on the issue
focused (based on their beliefs and convictions). Thus , unknowingly spectator
starts acting out and shifts his role
from spectator to actor.
Second stage of IIT ends here.
In the third stage, the
protagonist gradually shift his/her crisis to entire spectators, and transforms
him/herself as the facilitator and act as moderator and lead the discussion on
the presented issue. capsules dramatic plot fades and its issue remains.
The whole scenario now shifts
from dramatic performance to two way live interactive discussion and meeting of
capsule witnessing stakeholders, about
the issue presented through capsule.
Thus ends the whole process of
IIT.
Intimate interactive theater
performance, acts as a catalyst and curtain raiser to interactive discussion and meeting.
It also sets the ground for the stakeholder group, to listen and make
themselves receptive for further
intervention on the presented issue.
It will be at its best, when its
capsule will be performed in front of issue concerned stake holders.
Because, Dramatic part of IIT, attracts illiterate persons, make themselves
to involve emotionally in that performance immediately. When the affected
dramatic character invites them for discussion, they naturally
involves and expresses their hidden stands about the presented issue
unknowingly.
This opportunity which was opened
by IIT can be converted into
constructive discussion through proper facilitation.
It will
also opens an avenue for spectator to become constructive stake holder.
To create awareness and to seed discussion
about 5 dimensions of quality education among the stake holders, intimate
interactive theater workshop for selected M.R.P"s and development youth volunteers was conducted.
Namma Shaale plus programme identified the 8 stakeholder" s, who are
in need to get awareness and make them to involve as a child friendly community
for effective introduction of quality education in schools and society.
So after having this IIT training ,trained youth group, has been expected to develop the different kind of issue based
capsules and through its presentation in front of stake holders, they will create mass discussion about their roles
and responsibility for their children
and school regarding RTE and quality education.
Trained IIT Group, will develop particular
theme based capsules, related to various stake holders and perform in front of concearned small stakeholder group of that particular village and in the
middle of the play they make facilitation, which leads to discussion on RTE related issue .
The important thing is IIT people
will not give any answer for the issues/ problem , but on the other hand they will facilitate the
discussion and help the capsule viewing
stakeholders to find their own solution for
crisis.
In NS+ 8 stake holders divided
into 3 categories, as mentioned below:
1. Classroom
Transaction: In this category Teachers
and Children will cover.
2. Education
leadership and management: Education officers and Head masters covered under
this.
3. Community
Participation: Parents, development
youth volunteers, Gram Panchayat, SDMC, Angan wadi workers come under this.
For 3rd category and especially for parents, we can make use of this
IIT communication tools to develop awareness among them , about quality education.
In first phase of this workshop, Master resource persons will
get this IIT training and understand about the process of IIT and after that,
they will train the development youth volunteers.
The objective of this 6 days’
workshop is to develop master trainers in IIT.
Process:
1st day:
The first day facilitator explained about the theoretical
base of intimate interactive theater to the participants.
In order to make them to
understand all the three stages on intimate interactive theatre's skill, he
demonstrated some practical examples of
intimate interactive theater.
He explained in detail about the
elements and factors which works out in the process of I.I.T. i.e., a)
intimacy, b) interaction and c)theater
He described to participants,
about the important elements to be observed and practiced in all the three stages of IIT process. They
are as follows:
1)observation 2) Absorbtion 3)concentration
4) imagination and 5)improvisation .
He explained to participants
about the method and skill in creating issue based drama capsules ,where readymade dialogues are absent and
conflicting protagonist and antagonist stand about the issue hidden in the
capsule remains and take the form of characters.
LEARANINGS FROM DAY 1 SESSIONS
:
* Participants
made understood the
difference between street play and
Intimate interactive theater.
* participants understood the
theoretical background of IIT.
* participants learnt about the
concept of IIT.
*participants learnt about why
they are here and what is expected from them in remaining workshop days and
after that what role they have to take in RTE Communication among the stake
holders.
2nd day:
Today facilitator divided participants
into 3 groups, and started giving
practical training regarding the stage 1 of the IIT performance i.e.,
creating issue based dramatic capsules
and performing it.
He had given practical idea about
the usage of space in IIT performance, creating the IIT stage, time management,
establishing conflicting characters, non verbal communication and importance of
eye contact, verbal clarity, and also introduced the ground rules of the IIT as
mentioned below:
1. Who ( role )
2.Where ( place)
3.What is relation between the
actors (protagonist or antagonist character)
4. What is they going to say.( stand taken about
the Issue)
while performing capsules, audience must understand clearly about the role of actor performing i.e., who is he/she? and where is he/She?and
what is the relation between he/she have with the other actor
who is performing? and for what purpose he/she is there?
Otherwise , no interaction will takes place.
Based on the above discussions in order to
understand it clearly , participants were divided into 3 groups and gone
through to practical experience.
groups got instructions from the
facilitator to develop some themes of 3 to 5 minutes on school dropout issue
and perform it.
All the 3 groups worked together to develop the theme and performed and got feedback from
the facilitator.
Learnings of day 2 sessions :
* participants understood the
theoretical phase of stage one of IIT.
*Participants understood the mode
of developing characters (protagonist & antagonist & affected) in
intimate interactive theater's dramatic capsules.
* participants understood how to
arrange IIT performing stage and how to use it.
*participants understood the
different methods of acting in Intimate Interactive theater capsules.
*participants understood about
the problems which emerges while creating IIT capsules and performing it.
* they also understood the methods of overcoming the problems while performing.
*they learnt about creating Interactive song and its usage in dramatic part of
IIT.
.
3rd day:
Based on the day 2's learning, participants involved in the script
writing and execution of script.
These scripts related to out of school
children.
After that,
facilitator discussed about principles of the theater and principles of acting.
He draws attention of the participants towards
creating Curiosity.
because it is the main principle to be followed by actors
in theater performance.
Facilitator told that, IIT people must develop curiosity developing techniques, and
adopting it in capsule creating and in capsule performance. Facilitator
stressed on the point that IIT capsule should maintain curiosity in
the audience about the issue also.
Facilitator today gave practical
training to participants, regarding the second stage of IIT performance i.e.,
protagonist character or affected character shifting his/her crisis to
spectator and conversion process of spectator into spect-actor.
Various methods of conversion possibilities
were practiced.
He also specified about the
theater and actor psychology and stressed participants to observe the reactions of spectator during
the performance.
He demonstrated to participants various methods of observing the
spectator while acting.
Learnings of day -3 sessions.
*youth volunteer group created
three capsules of IIT on the Issue of school dropouts and developed confidence
in performing it.
*participants understood the
importance of affected character in the capsule, and its conversion into
facilitator.
*participants learnt various
methods of observation while they are performing capsules.
*participants understood the
importance of second stage in IIT performance.
*participants understood the role
of other characters, while the affected character is converting him/herself as
facilitator.
4th day:
Today facilitator explained the Story “Bangarada Rotti” and made
participants to think on that, and asked the groups to perform it with
different interpretation.
With the background of those performances, facilitator draw the
concentration of the participants towards the 3rd stage of IIT performance i.e.,
fading capsule's dramatic effect and retaining capsule's issue for the group
discussion.
Various methods of fading and
retaining was introduced and practiced
by the group.
After this participants done rehearsals of the
plays in the different groups.
Learnings of day-4 sessions.
*groups performed 'bangarda
rotti' with different interpretations, and learned to improvise the capsule as
per the need of the situation.
*participants learnt about the
Importance of third stage of IIT.
*participants understood the
process of fading dramatic effect and retaining issue's discussion links.
*participants understood about
emerging advocacy skills in IIT performance.
* participants understood the
concept of non-verbal communications and its effect in IIT performance.
5th day:
The 5th day
facilitator started the session with a story, which was related to the King,
queen and demonstrated to participants, how it covers all the three stages of intimate
interactive theater, and also how it converts spectator into spect- actor and using
that opportunity ,how the facilitator converts that spect- actor group into advocacy group.
He highlighted about the
following points , which works out positively in intimate interactive theatre's
capsule performing process:
1. Emotional
intelligence
2. Meta
thinking process (role play and brain storming)
3. Spect-Actor
building technique
4. Forced
efficiency principles
5. Right
brain communication text
6. Acting
out I.Q. through E.Q .Experience
7. Acquired
emotional memory chain
8. Time
management
9. Two
way communication live techenique and
10. Converting
secondary catharsis experience in to primary catharsis.
He asked participants to prepare
capsules, which includes all the three stages of intimate interactive theater
performance.
after that, he guided the
participants to develop the script on 5 dimension of NS+ and to be presented on
day six.
Group
started practicing and preparing for the performance for the day 6.
Today SISLEP Director
MR.Donur visited the
workshop and had interaction with the participants.
Learnings of day-5 sessions.
*participants learnt and
practiced non-verbal communication techniques.
*participants understood about
the methods of creating, performing IIT capsules which includes all the three
stages of IIT.
*participants understood
about the ten elements which makes IIT
process as a training tool.
*participants learnt about
"para-language" and its effect on nonverbal communication.
*participants learnt and
practiced about voice variation, dancing steps, opening and closing IIT
performance.
6th day:
The last day facilitator oriented
the participants to develop songs related to following 5 dimensions of NS+:
1.
Access’s
2.
Gender equity
3.
Quality education
4.
Health and security
5.
Community participation.
On these things, participants
developed the different kind of songs.
After this facilitator explained
about the various theater techniques
which can be used to attract the group of people and convert them into
spectator.
After that various Intimate interactive capsules developed by participants based on
NS+ issues were performed .
The opinions and feedbacks of participants about the workshop was
collected.
Informal closing function was
held and Mr.Kishor attavar,Head NSP/PPU, discussed about the future plan of
action.
The participants decided to
conduct IIT workshop at Raichur and Gulbarga along with MRP's of those
districts and youth volunteers.
Participants shared their experience and expressed their
positive opinions about Intimate interactive workshop.
manual of workshop which includes concept, activities and time chart of
workshop was distributed to the
participants and after vote of thanks, workshop summed up.
Learnings of the day -6 sessions.
*participants understood the
method of creating perfect IIT stage.
*participants understood the
method of conducting whole IIT performance.
* participants understood the
usage of suggestive props, make-up, costumes, music and dance in IIT capsule
performance.
*participate learnt the
importance of facilitation in IIT performance.
*participants understood the whole process of IIT training
conceptually and practically.
*participants understood the
method of conducting IIT workshop to youth volunteers.
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