*The image depicts the inaugural function of a Public Presentation at Medlycott Hall. Dr. CS Biju delivers a welcome speech from a podium on the left, while five dignitaries sit centrally: Fr. Martin, Mar Tony Neelankavil, Dr. R Bindu, Kalamandalam Raman Chakyar, and Dr. Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren. To the right, a woman provides sign language interpretation. The stage features a striking artistic design with black curtains, textured white paper panels, and a brown paper-covered foreground.
Towards a Different Earth (TDE), a collaboration on an Accessible Eco-Theatres Arts Residency, connected college youth, Deaf/Hard-of-hearing and Blind/VI communities, service providers for Indian Sign Language (ISL) and Audio Description, and theatre practitioners in Thrissur, India, with experts in Accessible Theatres.
TDE involved the co-development of a performance methodology for engaging a diverse, mixed ability community with Kerala stories on mountains and climate change.
Our Public Presentation includes an Inaugural Ceremony, a Talk by Dr. Kanta Kochhar, and the collectively developed performance of "Towards A Different Earth."
*The image is from the performance during the public presentation where all the participants in black attire stand in a solemn irregular line across a stage, each connected to another performer by a single rope held between them. The minimalist set features textured white paper panels against black curtains and a brown-covered foreground. A glowing wind chime hangs upstage left.
