Relief Activities through street Theatre Performances in Northern part of Sri Lanka

Street theatre performance by Active Theatre Movement

ByT. Thevananth,M.A,MSc

The burden carried on the people’s heart in the northern part of Srilanka surroundings was heavy due to escalation of war. They have forgotten their own image due to heavy pressure brought on them. They have buried their burdens deeply in their hearts and wandering about with a dry face, as if they have no life in them. This situation predicts inactiveness in future.

They are unable to lay down their burdens through fear. Due to the fear they have to keep their mouths shut as if they are wearing masks and live in silence.

Theatre activities is a good tool to break their silence and make happy by laughing, speaking, Crying and shouting .This kind of theatre activities gives relief to masses with heavy hearts.

Street theatre performance by Active Theatre Movement

The people who congregate will spend a few hours happily like those who are in heavy burdens. This theatre is actually giving relief to those affected by mental stress.

The spectators/participants of this theatre face several problems having got entangled in the hand of war and post war situation specially those struggling for their existence.

A street theatre activity consists of several steps, the participant will be about 100-150.The performance will be suitable to both children and elders, as a first step the actors will introduce themselves to the participants.


 It is very necessary to state clearly who they are, from where they have come and purpose of performing the play. Due to the situation prevailing in north  each person has no confidence in the others. it could be seen that the people do not have faith on each others, selfishness, neglecting others and suspicion  with each others have increased .It cannot be  said whether overlooking  all these will have trust on the actors. Even then first step will be introducing themselves to the spectators.

Second step actors entering the refugee camps or resettlement villages of people clad in dresses of various colours. They will go from hut to hut, speak to the families, introduce themselves and invite them to see the performance, whilst doing this it is the children who first join with the performers. Whilst going accompanied by children, they will go round and around to the rhythms of musical instruments and have a chat. 


Thereafter they will invite all to the place under the tree which had already been arranged. Finding a shady tree suitable to conduct the play will be the most important task. Under the present situation it is not possible to make this kind of get-together.

The village or resettlement place will become glamorous as the actors enter beating drums loudly .This situation will prevail until the performance over. Before the spectators congregate to under the shady tree, they join the children and actors and games. Mostly rural games are played.

The elders become more lively by watching the play. They will be surprised, astonished and emotionally aroused. At this emotional environment, all the spectators will get together .After this an outline of emotional play will be introduced. The introductory play will lead to the shady tree where the main performance is to take place. The dialogue of this play will express the main theme of intention. The main points will be obtained consequent to discussion about the tribulations faced by the masses. The subject of the play is the problems faced by the spectators. Especially the subjects will be those embedded in the hearts of the people.

They may not be able express their feelings through fear. The main intention of the performers is to identify the problems buried in their hearts and to bring it out as the main topic. If this perfectly achieved, the spectators will break their silence and lay down the agonies they are undergoing. The dialogue will be in the form of discussion. There will be antagonists and protagonist in the play. Particularly a portion of the play will be antagonistic towards the spectators. These characters will be in leading position. Whereas another section of characters will be representing the spectators.The spectators will then be main actors. The interaction between the sections will be the play. This will motivate the spectators to take part in the play. This will make them to consider their problems and take action to overcome it.

At the play when those who represent the spectators loose their effectiveness of their roles, the spectators will take their places, the antagonists will then talk straight to the spectators. Ask questions, cast as persons, praise them, threaten spectators, bring pressure on the spectators to listen to them. This method will encourage the spectators to speak. In some instances all will speak whilst in some other instances few will speak and others will show their support by clapping their hands. This situation will show that all have been made to speak.

The play will come to an end by spectators chasing the antagonists away from the place. It is their wish to chase the antagonists. When this is finalised they will be in happiness. It will be chasing the antagonists from the minds of those who are pressed with traumatic stress. There will be much relief at this stage. After the play each performer will speak to the spectators standing under the tree .Some will dance and sing with children. Some will disclose the traumatic stress they are undergoing to the actors. The actors will then console the spectators during the one hour spent under the shady tree. Some will cry and come out with their mental stress. Some will come out with information which they have not disclosed earlier to anyone .Some will come out openly with their desires and hates. It could be observed that the participants have got implicit faith in the actors, the spectators get impression that the performers take interest in their problems, thereby they place all their grievances before the actors. It will be advisable for the mental health counsellors to be with the performers .It is felt that there will be much relief when the health counsellors and the actors meet together .Unwritten plays and open air theatre desires talented actors. When talented actors are found this performance will continue to thrive. This is possible by continued action. The Active Theatre Movement is much involved in relief activities. The play under the tree has strength, beauty, wrath, peace etc. This could be realised by persons who face problems in their daily life.