Bangalore's performance space Ranga Shankara does not believe in restricting theater to the auditorium.
In the Ranga Shankara Theatre Fest '11, Bangaloreans will not only get to watch plays by city theatre groups but also have students from various colleges in the city put up street performances on social and political issues that touch our lives in contemporary society.
One such is the Kananda play Kattepurana (Story of a donkey that will be presented by students of National College, Basavangudi. "It is a 20-minute long story about the present political scenario.
Through the story of a donkey, we see how the politicians, chief ministers and various leaders try to mould society and create pressure on public," says Professor Venugopal, the director of Kattepurana.
Venugopal shares that the play revolves around a donkey which goes to a city with his master. The donkey helps the master earn money but in turn is made to stand at one corner of the city without food and water.
Ultimately the donkey runs away and after a lot of search it is found dead. The donkey, according to Venugopal, is a metaphor that brings out the oppression that exists in the sociopolitical system.
Venugopal believes that street theatre is a unique way of reaching out to the audience and says, "The students come out on the streets to make people aware of what's happening in society. Also, in a street play, you instantly get the audience's reaction."