Nobody is a stranger to the environment issues that are wrecking havoc all over the world. And even after knowing causes and effects of it, people do little or are able to do little about it, as a result harming their own selves directly or indirectly. How to cope up with this problem is a question being debated and discussed the world over. And steps are also being taken to minimize the effect of the issues. But are these steps enough? The answer doubtlessly is no. With the environment degrading day by day, more action needs to be taken and more awareness among the people is the need of the hour. Recently Greta Thunberg, the young environmental activist created a stir by urging the world leaders to rise and do something, save the environment. She heroically raised her voice to raise awareness. And similar heroic voices are being raised too by theatre practitioners back home.

Theatre as a genre in India has developed a lot in the recent years. Research institutes on the theatre and drama have sprung up and they continue to evolve the practices, methods and modes of the theatre. This not only helps to reach out to the modern audience, but also helps to bring different social issues to the forefront, through the form of entertainment. Theatre has become a social voice in India, it would not be wrong to say, in the contemporary times. It is especially so with the emergence of new forms like street plays, skits etc, which are a good means to create awareness about different issues. And such as is the case, with the pressing environmental concerns, the theatre has contributed to alleviate the effects of this issue too. It has been done in two ways, firstly by creating awareness among the people and secondly by using sustainable practices.

Theatre groups have struggled to create awareness among people by demonstrating in their plays the causes and effects of environmental pollutions. Through their creativity, they have urged people to wake up to the environment’s needs. In theatre festivals too, the themes like ‘Planet Earth’, ‘Mother Nature’ etc. have been taken up. Schools and colleges also have staged plays on similar themes in their own institutions, on the stage and on the streets too. The concept of sustainability has also been focused on in recent plays, and the concept has been explained to the audience through these plays. Theatre thus in this area has played a significant role.

And theatre groups have inducted sustainability into their methods, as already stated. They have novelly done so by using eco-friendly props like wooden boxes, discarded bamboo, materials made from wood pieces, scrap iron and other scrap materials. The use of plastic is utterly minimized and discouraged. It is also taken care by them that the stage effects too are eco-friendly. For example, loud noises for sound effects and the use of dry gas are rejected. Eco-friendly make-up and costumes are encouraged by certain theatre practitioners. The methods of reduce, reuse and recycle are ensured to be followed by them. Abhishek Iyengar, cofounder of ‘WeMove Theatre’ states that such practices are these help them save up their costs at logistics, which brings better pay for artistes. “This reduces cost, minimizes wastage and also calls for more creativity,” he says. The plays staged by these theatre groups are attracting attention and in turn more and more performances are being staged. Young professionals and techies working for the environment cause are joining theatre practices as a break from their jobs. Encouraged, more and more theatre groups are taking up eco-friendly practices.

Minti Jain, project associate at the BLT (Bangalore Little Theatre, the oldest English Language Theatre in Bangalore) said, “Our handbook introduces concepts of sustainability through theatre techniques like role-play, conscience alley (making and listening to different viewpoints over a particular issue), hot seat (exploring a topic through one particular prominent character).” This shows that these practitioners are moving forward with a great vigour and enthusiasm for the environment.

The eco-friendly theatre, also called green theatre and environmental theatre, as can be seen has a great scope, for its own as well as for the social developments. It is a novel, creative practice. More such practices are needed for now with the threatening environmental issues.

By – Abhipsa Mohanty