Theatre workshop for special wards of Pingalwara

Amritsar, July 16

In a first, special wards of Pingalwara got an opportunity to bring out the artiste in them through a theatre workshop by noted theatre person Dr Ankur Sharma. Sharma runs the YUVAA theatre in Jalandhar and has been working towards developing theatre and drama as alternative learning tools.

The three-day theatre workshop held at Manawala branch of the Pingalwara was based on the theme of ‘Theater for life’. The workshop focused on developing alertness of the mind, physical movements, coordination working in groups, voice and speech development and personality development.

Dr Ankur Sharma said the workshop concentrated on using theatre and acting techniques to help inhabitants of Pingalwara and students of the schools running here to realise their potential and discover new possibilities of making their lives better. Dr Harjit Singh, director of the acclaimed film, “Eh Janam Tumahre Lekhe”, based on the life and works of Bhagat Puran Singh, founder of Pingalwara, was also present at the workshop. “The workshop was especially useful for people with mental disabilities and even those with physical disabilities. The children with hearing disabilities were taught using mime and other theatre expressions. Similarly, lessons in theatre and drama were given keeping in mind individual needs of the participants,” shared Dr Ankur.

Students of Bhagat Puran Singh Adarsh Senior Secondary School, Bhagat Puran Singh School of Special Education, Bhagat Puran Singh School for the deaf, patients from various wards of Pingalwara also performed at the workshop.