A theatre of dreams

A day in the life of a theatre artiste

Neha Saini

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 22

The times a theatre artiste is having at Singhu border is going to be a lifetime memory printed in the mind. The artistes from Punjab have become important carriers of the message that farmers’ agitation is trying to propagate.

Sarabjeet Singh, 41, a senior theatre artiste from city has been performing at the site along with Kewal Dhaliwal’s Manch Rangmanch and his day at the heart of one of most important protest movement in recent history, he says, is nothing short of a dream come true.

“The energy and determination one feels among those protesting farmers is just indescribable. I lived with them for three days, sleeping in makeshift tents, living in trollies that have been converted to mini kitchens and homes. The protest has turned into a common man’s rebellion where every person participating is significant,” he said.

Sarabjeet performed the Punjabi play ‘Hardiyan Sohniyan’ which is based on farmers’ rights. “Our day spent there was much more disciplined than usual as everything is organised in such a manner right from morning chores to conduct of stage and activities. We used to have breakfast at 9 am and the stage used to open at 12 with scheduled cultural and creative activities being conducted till 4 pm,” he shares. The evenings were reserved for discussions, open forums and exchange of the ideas on farm laws as there is a large gathering of Punjab’s ‘think tank’ that has become a part of the protests. “We used to stage our play several times and interact with other artistes as well.”

As a theater artiste for past 25 years, Sarabjeet shared that the three days spent there made him realise the importance of his craft. “As artistes, we became the loudest voice of dissent, reflecting upon the sentiment that those brave farmers, who have been determinedly demonstrating for past 25 days. Theatre and folk art of Punjab is leading from the front during these times and I am proud to be a part of it.”