Playback theatre enacts a change in lives for the better in these homes

Playback theatre, a form of theatre which is also referred to as original theatre, dwells into real-life stories of the actors as enacted by them. The art form was adopted by the Department of Social Defence in all the child care institutions in the State late last year. So far, around 2,402 children in the age group of eight to 18 years have been covered in the sessions across 48 homes in the State.

The forms of playback employed are fluid sculpture (a basic form with a mix of sound and movement that represent a particular feeling or a moment experienced), flash story, Ul-ondru (suppression of inner feelings by complex external factors) and echo. Ul-ondru and echo have been developed by Sterling School of Playback Theatre. 

Cyril Alexander, director, Sterling School of Playback Theatre, said, “We address their psychosocial needs. Their interpersonal skills have improved. While they never shared their stories with anyone earlier, after playback theatre, they have bonded better. In the case of aggressive children, they mellow down and reflect on the devils in their mind.”

Their brush with crimes can make them insecure, pointed out S Selvakumar, a resource person in the group, who has been working with children in the Southern districts. “They are always insecure and feel lost. When we motivate them through warm-up sessions, exercises and games, amid the theatre modules, they loosen up a little, overcome anxiety and reach out to their mates,” he added.

After workshops for the staff and the children, the sessions are carried forward by the staff. Dialogue factory, an initiative taken to help them express their feeling and experiences, has also been set up. There are 90 such dialogue factories in these institutions.

The art form has also helped facilitate a better interaction between the staff and the children. Uma Maheswari, superintendent from the Kellys Government Home for Girls, observed, “It is heartening to see them enjoying it. The staff have also changed their approach.” Periyanayagammal, a staff facilitating a dialogue factory in the home, said, “Earlier, I would get angry often. But now that I know their feelings, I know losing my temper is not a solution.”

The impact is stronger in the government homes than in the observation homes, said the source from the Social Welfare Department. “It is a floating group of children in these homes. But in the other homes, where the inmates stay for a longer period, it has been a game changer,” the source said.  

“Girls, in particular, find it extremely difficult to open up in front of others and fear being ridiculed by their friends,” said Prema, a resource person from the theatre group. Even as the assessment of the impact is set to be complete, sources say that an extension of the programme would help.