Theatre Group

53 performances in awareness programmes by the Swayam Theatre group in 2019/20.

The Swayam theatre group has been in existence since 1997 and continues to play a vital role in all our outreach programmes. The idea of using theatre as a potentially powerful medium for raising awareness about violence against women, grew spontaneously out of a support group exercise. Theatre encourages and promotes self-expression, co-operation and teamwork. We could see that much of what we were trying to achieve in the support groups could be addressed through the process of theatre itself.

The theatre group has numerous productions on violence against women and women’s rights in its repertoire; topics include The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act of 2005 and empowerment of young girls. They are also regularly invited to perform alongside professional groups at theatre festivals and other events.

 

 

Survivor to Inspiring Theatrical Leader:

Soumi faced tremendous dowry pressure from her husband and in laws ever since her marriage. She was subjected to severe physical, emotional, sexual and economic torture. She lived a life of continued oppression and after thirteen years of her marriage was driven out of her matrimonial home when she protested.

Soumi came to Swayam lost, unhappy and her confidence was rock bottom. Swayam assisted her with counselling, police intervention and legal advice. She decided to register a criminal case against her husband and filed an FIR under Section 498A. She also filed a case under The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act 2005.

She further accessed psychotherapy services and was diagnosed with psychiatric problems as a result of the violence. She was referred to a psychiatrist to address this issue and Swayam provided financial support for her medication. She also sat for career counselling after which she decided to enrol for a Masters in Social Work program.

She started attending the group activities and began to use her creativity to express her innermost feelings experiences and move ahead in life. She joined the Swayam theatre group and began to flourish. Over time, Soumi regained her confidence and the ability to take control of her life despite the challenges. She completed her Masters and is now a practicing social worker, and became the leader of the Swayam theatre group, actively encouraging others to join and become change makers themselves.

Soumi is a shining example of a survivor who is not only addressing violence in her life but is working as an agent of broader social change in her own right.