KOCHI: The harsh treatment meted out to women and their struggle against a society whose norms are skewed against them was portrayed vividly in ‘Mattuvin Chattangale’, a street play by Adisankara Training College Campus Theatre at Ernakulam Public Library on Thursday.
The play was performed on the second day of ‘Theruvarangu’, a street play festival held in remembrance of actor P J Antony.
Inaugurating the day’s events, critic Thomas Mathew said no other art form has the power to unveil the complexities of life like the theatre.
“The actors enliven the stage by their physical and facial expressions. Theatre does not need colourful paraphernalia. What it needs are themes that stay close to public life. Let’s hope Theruvarangu rekindles the theatre scene in the state,” he said.
‘Janaganamana’, a play by Aluva Creative Efforts and ‘Velayudhante Swapnam’, a play by Kozhikode Repertoire Theatre also grabbed the attention of the audience.
“The festival is being organised with an aim to popularise the aesthetics of street plays and their doctrine. It is also an attempt to go beyond the established moulds of the street play presentation by embracing new techniques and style,” said the organisers.
The four-day festival will conclude on Saturday. It is being held at North Paravur, Panangad and Kothamangalam apart from Ernakulam.