The play being enacted at Bakul Library in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, May 10: The Bakul Library organised an interactive play on violation of human rights last evening. Volunteers of Bakul Foundation enacted it. It was conceptualised by Italian associate of the foundation, Sara Manzo.

The play titled The strange case of the lost human rights had a string of stories, originally written or adapted by the volunteers belonging to different age groups. The audience also got involved in the play as part of a make-believe delegation called “Un-United Nations” that visited the library to discuss the theme.

The viweers encountered horrific sagas of suffering through various stories. For instance, the character of a grey-haired woman narrating how she had been raped and refused help even by the police intrigued the visitors, who became a part of the play.

Besides, a eunuch, victims of communal riots, sexual abuse, domestic violence, social ostracisation also narrated their stories. The play addressed issues that the nation is grappling with. Among the actors, Mahua Maharana, a retired insurer, who adapted The Rape by Italian theatre actress Franca Rame, gave a spine-chilling performance. Economics graduate Sananda Satpathy delivered another excellent performance playing a a differently-abled girl who was molested by her teacher.

Before the play, Sara, a theatre activist, conducted a workshop with the volunteers where she explored different theatrical methodologies such as oppressed theatre of Augusto Boal, living theatre of Eugenio Barba and poor theatre of Jerzy Grotowski.

“You take up any newspaper from anywhere across the globe and it will reveal the dreadful tales where human rights are rejected. The play attempts to take a dig at the prevailing scheme of things and enlighten youngsters about declaration of human rights,” said the 29-year-old.