Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Koshish Theatre Group
Koshish Theatre Group, a division of Youth TRAC, COVA, is based in the old city of Hyderabad. Koshish endeavors to sensitize people on various social issues with special focus on communal harmony. The Group has a number of plays on communal harmony, education, women’s rights, child labour and other social issues in its repertoire.
The Team
Presently, the core group of Koshish comprises 25 members, eight of them being girls. The membership has representation of different communities. The members typically hail from economically deprived sections of the old city of Hyderabad. Many of them were school-dropouts, who were motivated to resume their studies after joining Koshish Theatre Group.
Experience(s)
Initiated in the year 2000, Koshish has given over 700 performances on the streets and has staged over 150 performances in prestigious auditoriums of the country. The performances were widely acclaimed for their success in sensitizing people on different social issues.
During the Ganesh Festival and in the tense situation after communal riots in the old city, Koshish Theatre Group performs street plays spreading the message of peace. The group also stages plays in schools. It has recently begun to perform at colleges too.
Artistes of Koshish Theatre Group have at times faced the wrath of communal groups while performing on streets for peace and harmony. Their persistent efforts yielded results when the same people who had been against them joined the Group in spreading the message of brotherhood.
During the Ganesh Festival and in the tense situation after communal riots in the old city, Koshish Theatre Group performs street plays spreading the message of peace. The group also stages plays in schools. It has recently begun to perform at colleges too.
Artistes of Koshish Theatre Group have at times faced the wrath of communal groups while performing on streets for peace and harmony. Their persistent efforts yielded results when the same people who had been against them joined the Group in spreading the message of brotherhood.
Achievements
Along with regular performances for sensitization, the Group carved its niche in promoting messages of peace and communal harmony by participating in drama competitions at various levels and winning laurels.
Koshish Theatre Group bagged 1st prize for its play, Maanush, at State Level Competitions organized in January 2004 by the Department of Culture and Department of Youth Services, Government of Andhra Pradesh coinciding with the National Youth Festival. Koshish was placed 3rd at the National Level Competition organized in the same month at Tata Nagar, Jamshedpur.
At the national level Hindi One-Act Play Competitions organized in March 2004 by Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Koshish Theatre Group secured 1st prize.
Koshish in collaboration with another theatre group produced Andha Yug at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad in July 2003 featuring 42 actors on the stage.
Koshish has participated in the fifth International Theatre Festival organized in Delhi by National School of Drama. The Group also participated in National Level Theatre Festivals held in Kerala, Orissa and Chennai.
The child artistes of Koshish Theatre Group participated in International Children’s Theatre Festival at Kolkatta in August 2004.
Koshish team performed at national institutions in Hyderabad like IICT, NIN, IIIT and National Police Academy.
Koshish performances were facilitated by NGOs and NGO Networks like Apna Watan, Aman Biradari, Friends of Iran Society, government departments like Hyderabad Traffic Police, and established educational institutions like St Ann’s School, Sharada Vidyalaya, Boys’ Town High School, New Grammar High School, Iqra Mission School and others.
In the Theatre Festival that Koshish organised on January 27-28, 2005, more than thirty teams from across Hyderabad participated in the inter-school and inter-college competitions.
Koshish team participated in the Second National Children’s Theatre Festival in Kolkata in May 2005.
Koshish Theatre Group bagged 1st prize for its play, Maanush, at State Level Competitions organized in January 2004 by the Department of Culture and Department of Youth Services, Government of Andhra Pradesh coinciding with the National Youth Festival. Koshish was placed 3rd at the National Level Competition organized in the same month at Tata Nagar, Jamshedpur.
At the national level Hindi One-Act Play Competitions organized in March 2004 by Dakshin Bharat Hindi Prachar Sabha, Koshish Theatre Group secured 1st prize.
Koshish in collaboration with another theatre group produced Andha Yug at Ravindra Bharati, Hyderabad in July 2003 featuring 42 actors on the stage.
Koshish has participated in the fifth International Theatre Festival organized in Delhi by National School of Drama. The Group also participated in National Level Theatre Festivals held in Kerala, Orissa and Chennai.
The child artistes of Koshish Theatre Group participated in International Children’s Theatre Festival at Kolkatta in August 2004.
Koshish team performed at national institutions in Hyderabad like IICT, NIN, IIIT and National Police Academy.
Koshish performances were facilitated by NGOs and NGO Networks like Apna Watan, Aman Biradari, Friends of Iran Society, government departments like Hyderabad Traffic Police, and established educational institutions like St Ann’s School, Sharada Vidyalaya, Boys’ Town High School, New Grammar High School, Iqra Mission School and others.
In the Theatre Festival that Koshish organised on January 27-28, 2005, more than thirty teams from across Hyderabad participated in the inter-school and inter-college competitions.
Koshish team participated in the Second National Children’s Theatre Festival in Kolkata in May 2005.
Training Services
With considerable experience in street and stage theatre and formal training in theatre techniques, the Koshish team now offers training programs to students in college and schools in acting and production of short plays. Koshish Theatre Group offers one training session per week for a nominal fee of Rs.500 per month. Koshish conducting training sessions in 12 schools.
Play On Communal Harmony and National Integration
Saare Jahan Se Achcha
This mime won accolades for its creatively pithy portrayal of how the narrow outlooks of people of different faiths can converge to create a symbol of peace and brotherhood.
Concept & Design: Koshish Duration: 8 min. No. of Actors: 6
No. of performances so far: 350
Sab Sey Sasta Gosht
The title means the ‘cheapest of meats’. In stylized theatre, the present play focuses on how innocent are divided on the basis of religion and are used by the corrupt and selfish politicians for their personal benefit.
Script: Dr. Asghar Wajahat Duration: 15 min. No. of Actors: 12
No. of performances so far: 200
This mime won accolades for its creatively pithy portrayal of how the narrow outlooks of people of different faiths can converge to create a symbol of peace and brotherhood.
Concept & Design: Koshish Duration: 8 min. No. of Actors: 6
No. of performances so far: 350
Sab Sey Sasta Gosht
The title means the ‘cheapest of meats’. In stylized theatre, the present play focuses on how innocent are divided on the basis of religion and are used by the corrupt and selfish politicians for their personal benefit.
Script: Dr. Asghar Wajahat Duration: 15 min. No. of Actors: 12
No. of performances so far: 200
Ram Aur Raheem
The play Ram aur Raheem through rib-tickling humour focuses on how two individuals having differences between them fight as one force to eradicate communalism.
Concept: Koshish Script: Aamer Hashmi Duration: 35 min. No. of Actors: 11
No. of performances so far: 6
Rahim Chotu with Family
In this play, conceived as a sequel to Ram aur Raheem, sharp satire on communal feelings, social evils like dowry system, discrimination towards eunachs, irresponsible behaviour of youth etc.
Concept & Script: Aamer Hashmi Duration: 1 hr. No. of Actors: 19
No. of performances so far: 6
Mera Bharat Mahaan
This short play contrasts the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters of this country with the present situation characterized by division of society on religious, caste and regional lines.
Script: Dr. Asghar Wajahat Duration: 45 min. No. of Actors: 14
No. of performances so far: 2
Maanush
The human race has been divided into different groups in the name of God. But one should realise that god is one and that though the paths are different the goal is the same. The play Maanush underscores this point through an experimental presentation, which is a mix of mime and stylized theatre.
Adapted from the original script of: Dr. Asghar Wajahat Duration: 45 min No. of Actors: 14
The play Ram aur Raheem through rib-tickling humour focuses on how two individuals having differences between them fight as one force to eradicate communalism.
Concept: Koshish Script: Aamer Hashmi Duration: 35 min. No. of Actors: 11
No. of performances so far: 6
Rahim Chotu with Family
In this play, conceived as a sequel to Ram aur Raheem, sharp satire on communal feelings, social evils like dowry system, discrimination towards eunachs, irresponsible behaviour of youth etc.
Concept & Script: Aamer Hashmi Duration: 1 hr. No. of Actors: 19
No. of performances so far: 6
Mera Bharat Mahaan
This short play contrasts the sacrifices made by the freedom fighters of this country with the present situation characterized by division of society on religious, caste and regional lines.
Script: Dr. Asghar Wajahat Duration: 45 min. No. of Actors: 14
No. of performances so far: 2
Maanush
The human race has been divided into different groups in the name of God. But one should realise that god is one and that though the paths are different the goal is the same. The play Maanush underscores this point through an experimental presentation, which is a mix of mime and stylized theatre.
Adapted from the original script of: Dr. Asghar Wajahat Duration: 45 min No. of Actors: 14
Play On Gender Discrimination
Hamen Jeene Do
As the title suggests, this play expresses the anguish of girls who want to study in the midst of various kinds of harassment by the male-dominated society.
Script: Muskaan Yousufi Duration: 20 min. No. of Actors: 8
No. of performances so far: 2
As the title suggests, this play expresses the anguish of girls who want to study in the midst of various kinds of harassment by the male-dominated society.
Script: Muskaan Yousufi Duration: 20 min. No. of Actors: 8
No. of performances so far: 2
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