Theatre group ‘Uncurtain’ has been performing their avenue play in numerous components of the town.
Kolkata:
The stigma towards COVID-19 has brought about sufferers and well being staff untold trauma in Bengal and past. Now, a theatre group has taken to the streets – actually – to battle towards it and make sense of the myths, misconceptions and pretend information concerning the virus.
One of many worst episodes came about on July 26 exterior a state-run hospital in Bongaon, 70 km north of Kolkata. A Covid affected person tried to climb an ambulance however was too weak to board it. He died attempting even because the ambulance driver, absolutely coated in a PPE swimsuit, stood and watched.
Some individuals filmed the tragedy however didn’t step ahead though the person’s spouse begged and pleaded with passersby for assist. She was too frail to elevate him into the ambulance. Nobody from the hospital emergency ward got here out to assist both.
Experiences of such horrific incidents have introduced theatre artists out on the streets of Kolkata to attempt to bust myths and dispel stigma about Covid so the above talked about tragedy by no means repeats itself.
One of many theatre teams – ‘Uncurtain’ – has been performing their avenue play in numerous components of the town.
Nandita Chanda, an actor within the play mentioned, “Corona is horrifying, it’s a pandemic, we live in a pandemic. So Our message is, sure, be afraid, take precautions however do not lose your humanity.”
“Theatre’s job is to enter society and lift questions. We’re compelled to try this,” mentioned Saikat Ghosh, the director of the play.
The battle towards Covid stigma is being fought in villages too with jatra – a conventional Bengali theatre. The entire marketing campaign is steered by Covid Care Community, an NGO of survivors, their households and docs.
Dr Diptendra Sarkar of Covid Care Community, who stopped by to see the road play at Jadavpur 8B bus stand, mentioned, “Extra individuals have died due to the stigma than the illness. The neighborhood is a key to beat the pandemic. Such performs have a significant position in involving individuals.”
“We can not simply sit in a single nook of the room and suppose solely docs will battle the pandemic. No, the society has to deal with it. The society has to get empowered and conscious,” mentioned Satyarup Siddhanta, a mountaineer who’s related to CCN.
Small crowds collect at each efficiency which is about 20 minutes lengthy. Prerna Mukherjee, a passerby and a theatre artist herself who was watching the efficiency, mentioned, “It is extremely courageous of those younger actors to return out on the road and carry out. One thing so informative. It’s actually nice.”
“Given the dimensions of the issue, it is a small effort, ” mentioned Mainak Ganguly, one other actor within the play. “Let’s hope individuals who noticed this get the message.”
The play ended with the well-known anthem – We Shall Overcome.
If this play makes even one particular person put on a masks or assist a Covid affected person, it should earn the applause it will get on the finish of each present.
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