The importance of community participation in ending gender based discrimination cannot be emphasized enough and drama is one of the few tools that hits the nail on the head. With this idea in mind, North East Network conducted ‘Natak Xiku Somaj Gorhu’, a community theatre Workshop from 3rd – 5th May, 2019 at Mirza, Kamrup. Fifteen participants including community women, support group members, peer leaders and adolescent girls from Mirza and Golaghat participated in the workshop that was led by Rabijita Gogoi and Himanshu Gogoi, theatre activists from Jirsong Theatre.
The workshop was conceptualized and executed to enhance the skills and talents of rural women and youth in theatre techniques and use drama as a creative medium to create awareness in rural communities on gender-based discrimination in both private and public spaces.
Through games, song and group activities, scripts were developed on gender discrimination practices at home, early marriage and domestic violence from a women’s rights perspective to empower communities through theatrical performances in different districts. The three day affair was brought to a joyous conclusion where community members including women and young boys and girls attended the final performance of the trainees.