File picture of members of the Natya Chetana performing at a village

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 30: A trip to Natyagram, about 35km from Bhubaneswar, before October 2 can provide glimpses of the members of Natya Chetana rehearsing for the play that they plan to present during a cycle expedition to 50 villages in Ganjam district.

The 10-day expedition, called cyco-theatre, will begin on Gandhi Jayanti.

Artistes of Natya Chetana (theatre for awareness) are organising cyco-theatre for the second time this year. Founder of the group Subodh Patnaik said presenting the play Mathei Pani (a pot of water) — based on the theme of gender inequality — about 100 times a year was no mean feat.

The aim of cyco-theatre is to reach out to the rural masses through theme-based plays. Initially, a survey is done about the demography and relevant issues of a particular area. Sometimes, on-the-spot improvisations are done if the situation demands it. The group stages the plays without intimation.

They ask the villagers to provide them with food and a place to sleep as natya bhikshya. After a week, they collect feedback. Mere claps or applause is not their aim. They want people to take action. Ask them about the taxing task of cycling and they write it off saying: “It’s is like an expedition. Uncertainties make it more thrilling.”

The psychology of first grabbing the attention and then creating awareness among the rural masses had evoked strong reactions last time and the artistes expect the same this time. One of the stories doing the rounds is about the artistes being beaten up by factory workers because their play Chaita Charita spoke about industrial pollution.

On another occasion, an old lady offered Rs 10 to the leading actress as an award as the play explained to her the concept of modernity in today’s world about which her three daughters would often pose questions.

The theatre group consists of artistes from all walks of life. The youngest member is 17 while the oldest is 71.

Some like Nilambar, a final-year student of Utkal University of Culture, are associated with it on a voluntary basis while those like the treasurer, Sujata Priyambada, have been full-time volunteers for a decade now.

Passion for acting seems to be the only driving force for artistes of the cyco-theatre. When asked why he didn’t choose an alternative career, which would have fetched him money, Gouranga Charan Das, the protagonist of Mathei Pani, said: “I love the discipline and culture here. I have been a full-time volunteer for two years. I may not be here always, but right now, my priority is to learn acting.”

“I wanted to act and do social service. I found both at Natya Chetana. Money is not a concern, but not having health insurance perturbs me sometimes,” said Priyambada, fondly called Baby Appa.