We have been consciously trying to reach out to a wider audience and also make our shows more inclusive. For this, in 2012 we launched our initiative ‘Making Theatre Accessible’, inviting children from underserved backgrounds into the theatre. To widen the reach of our work to children in rural and semi-urban areas as well, in 2017 we went on a Road Trip in a bus, a natak bus, across Karnataka, taking plays and workshops to places outside of metros, especially rural areas. After a very fulfilling and enlightening tour, we expanded the project to 2 states in 2018-19, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
We are now entering the 3rd year of this project and our natak bus shall re-visit most of the places that were a part of the project over the past 2 years. We have scheduled a 15 day tour of Maharashtra in Sept 2019 and a 21 day tour of Karnataka over Jan-Feb 2020. Along with performances, this year we shall also be conducting training sessions for local artists and educators at 3 locations in Karnataka, so they can be enabled to provide theatre and arts based experiences to children in their villages and towns.
To contribute, visit:
https://www.ketto.org/gillo-on-the-go-2019-20
Sept 2019 - Maharashtra
12 to 14 Sept - at Kamshet with The Company Theatre Workspace, performing at neighbouring villages - Nane, Uksan, Govitri and Kambre
15 to 22 Sept - in Pune city and outskirts, with local schools and NGOs, including Door Step School, Akshardeep-Swadhar and Jidnyasa Learning Centre
21 Sept - public show at Gyaan Adab, Kalyani Nagar, Pune
23 to 26 Sept - at Somatane, Uruli Kanchan, Sasawad and Wadgaon with Vanasthali Rural Development Centre (VRDC)
The Gillo Team
