Theatrical exhibitions or performances that take place in public places without the aid of paying audiences are called street theatre. In India, the evolution from proscenium theatre to street theatre took place as a way to emancipate the working class and intensify their rebellion against the existing powers that be. But why on the streets?
The origins of street theatre
During the British colonial period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, street theatre was a major means of social and political protest in India, due in large part to the influence of European theatre and the rise of the nationalist movement. The Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA) organised India's first street theatre in 1943 to spread liberal ideas and educate people about the negative effects of imperialism.
For the first time in Indian history, the Bengal famine triggered such dramatic action. Bijon Bhattacharya, one of the founders of the Indian People's Theatre Association (IPTA), wrote the first street play with a political message. Nabanna, a play depicting the dire situation of the Bengali peasants, was staged in 1944. The play portrays an accurate picture of Bengali landlords encroaching on the peasants under their control. Thus, IPTA was the pioneer theatre company in India that popularized street plays.
A society that was sharply divided along lines of class, caste and religion was influenced by street theatre, which took up themes and told stories that directly concerned people, such as food, hunger, poetry, communal violence and the exploitation of feudalism and colonialism.
Street theatre saw a revival in the 1970s and quickly spread across the country. In 1973, Safdar Hashmi founded Jana Natya Manch (also known as Janam) and spearheaded the street theatre movement in India. He actively criticised the problems existing in society through this art. His first work, Machine (1978), is a classic. Other examples of popular political theatre combining artistry and confrontation include Aurat (1979) and Halla Bol (1988). Street theatre underwent a major change when Hashmi was murdered during a performance in 1989. India now commemorates his birthday, April 12, as National Street Theatre Day to honour him and recognise his contribution to the early days of street theatre.
People's Heroes Theatre and CPI(M) activist Safdar Hashmi performing a street drama in the late 1970s. Janam Archive
How is street theatre performed?
Street dramas flourished as a popular form of entertainment and social criticism in India, and were frequently held in public places such as university campuses, railway stations, street corners in slums, and marketplaces. Artists do not have to wait for people to enter the theatre, and unlike traditional theatre, street drama audiences do not have to queue to buy tickets.
Teachers and students committed to social change make up the majority of street theatre performers, who receive no funding or official recognition. A chorus called a “dholak” is used to attract audiences. Once a sufficient number of people have gathered, the play is usually performed in a circular space with seating around the perimeter. The script is recited or sung by the chorus. Sometimes one person narrates without a microphone while the actors pantomime.
Artists performing during a rehearsal for the COVID Awareness Street Theatre Programme at Sankara Vidyalaya School, ECR, Puducherry. | Photo by Kumar SS
Renowned playwright Badal Sircar has described street theatre as “the essential tool of this profession is the human body. It requires exploring the potential of the human body – its ability to reach an audience of 4,000 without a microphone.”
In pantomime as a medium, no make-up is used. The face is painted white and the eyes are painted jet black to accentuate the facial expressions. The actors do not wear any special attire; the theme dictates whether they all wear black kurtas. With songs, short scripts, humour and proper voice modulation, they can easily attract a pedestrian audience.
Members of GITAM University's theatre group 'Faces' perform a body shaming street play, 'Shame', on Beach Road, Visakhapatnam. | Photo credit: KR DEEPAK
Combining entertainment and education, street theatre provides an engaging platform for people of all ages to emotionally relate to the issues at hand. With vibrant performances, relatable characters and thought-provoking scripts, it naturally connects with people from all walks of life.
Street theatre performance on schizophrenia awareness at Pondy Bazaar. | Photo by PICHUMANI K
“I consider theater to be the greatest of all art forms. It is the most direct way that humans can share their sense of humanity with other humans.”Oscar Wilde
Street theatre across the country
Street theatre has its origins in ancient India, where drama and storytelling were important elements of religion and culture. Although street theatre is closely related to indigenous Indian folk theatre, street theatre is not primarily intended for mass entertainment. What sets street theatre apart from other performance forms is its flexibility.
Telkooth artists dance during a procession at the 11th folk festival 'Veethi Virudu Visa' at Loyola College, Nungambakkam, Chennai on Thursday. | Photo by Akila Easwaran
Different parts of the country have traditional forms of street theatre, e.g. Tamasha In Maharashtra, Jatra In Bengal, Parivartan In Vadodara, Vidinadakam Andhra Pradesh and Thelkuttu In Tamil Nadu, all these folk plays focused on mythology, episodes from the Indian epics and the Puranas. Science and literacy have been promoted through street theatre by the Kerala Shastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP). Kannada playwright Chandrashekhar Patil, through his Samudaya founded in 1975 and numerous other units across Karnataka, performed street theatre, parodying human follies and social problems.
Theatre artists perform a street play to mark World Theatre Day at Cubbon Park in Bengaluru on March 27, 2019. | Photo by SUDHAKARA JAIN / THE HINDU
In India, street theatre has played a vital role in uplifting mass sentiments, raising awareness and bringing about constructive social change. Moreover, street theatre has provided a platform for aspiring performers and artists to showcase their capabilities and uplift the cultural scene of the country. Despite competition from electronic media, street theatre has not only remained popular as a popular public medium but has also spread from remote villages to big cities. The journey that started as a dream of Safdar Hashmi many years ago has taken appropriate shape and proudly defines street theatre in India.