Theatre for women’s empowerment

19 Academy drama students from grades 9-11 participated in a theatre festival at Oakridge International School on Wednesday 29^th August. Their performance fell in the category of street theatre, and was a 15-minute skit modified from a script written by Iliyan Gowlani (DP1) as part of his MYP Personal Project last year, themed on women’s empowerment.

“Street theatre is very different from proscenium theatre, where you perform on a stage,” explains Imra Dawoodani, grade 9. “We had to learn different kinds of body language and voice modulation, because it’s a 360-degree audience, and there are no mics. This wasn’t just about developing our drama skills but also about our actions as humans and as a society. We tried to demonstrate how one person and his mindset affects the community as a whole.”

The drama troupe was given a standing ovation and special mention by the organisers for their play, whose message was that freedom is a birthright for women, too. “As a performer, I'm personally really proud of the team and grateful for the appreciation that we received,” says Mahek Charania, grade 9. “We were filled with energy, excitement and determination. I’m certainly looking forward to future opportunities for us to express our passions and talents.”