Our Productions
Healing through drama and performing arts.
ChupChap Charlie
Directed by Nigiil Akkaraa
Chupchap Charlie,play staged by Kolahal Theater Workshop, involved more than 30 youngadults with autism and intellectual disabilities, along withwell-known artists. Through theatre-based rehabilitation, music recordings with renowned singers, celebrity-led fashion shows, and paid artistic opportunities, the project fostered confidence, skill development, social inclusion, and pathways to sustainable livelihoods.
Kala Jaadu
Directed by Nigiil Akkaraa
The ninth play by Kolahal Theatre Workshop is “Kala Jaadu”. The performance featured acid attack victims, autistic and intellectually challenged young adults, along with the Kolahaal actors in an empowering performance celebrating the strength and power of women. The inspiration for this project came from the women of Rajasthan called Rudalis.
Shilar Jinnat
Directed by Nigiil Akkaraa
The play entitled “Shilar Jinnat” was staged by Kolahal Theater Workshop, marked the eighth production by this theater group. This theater group brings together its students for a show that reflects the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world as one family.
Urruku Manush
Directed by Tanmoy Ghosh
Urukku Manush, is the seventh production staged by Kolahal Theater Workshop. The play involved not only regular actors but also a few autistic and intellectually disabled youth. The program used theatre for therapy to enhance self-respect and social skills through performing arts education, thus empowering them economically and socially.
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Pratimurti
Directed by Kingshuk Bandhopadhyay
Pratimurti,saw the amalgamation of both the regular group members of the Kolahal Theater Workshop and performers with intellectual disability from the Chupchap Charlie troupe, who worked as a professional paid artists here. The project helped boost the confidence levels and social integration of these artists, along with grooming their professional skills.
Bewarish
Directed by Abhijeet Anukameen
“Bewarish,” the third show produced by Kolahal Theater Workshop, was staged with recovering addicts . This theatre-based program for rehabilitation aimed to help those affected achieve emotional catharsis, gain new skills, integrate back into society, and boost self-respect.
Jhoraphuler Rupkatha
Directed by Chiranjib
“Jhorafuler Rupkatha,” which was the second play produced by the Kolahal Theater Workshop, starred women from the red light areas of Kolkata. Social inclusion,vocational training, self-confidence, and other livelihood sources were some of the highlights of the initiative through theater rehabilitation.
Mukoshtantra
Directed by Prajna Dutta
The play “Mukhoshtantra,” which was put up by Kolahal Theater Workshop in their post-COVID version of Macbeth, marked the return to stage of Nigiil Akkaraa and at the same time the rejuvenation of the dying arts of folk dance and martial art forms in Bengal. The project created sustainable performance opportunities, enhanced livelihoods, and restored visibility and dignity for traditional practitioners..
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Bishakto Panchali
Directed by Chiranjib
“ Bishakto Panchali” is the first production of Kolahal Theater Workshop. Apart from increasing awareness about social discrimination, the initiative provided rehabilitative support to the LGBTQ+ group to develop necessary skills that could help in earning a living.
Awareness through Street Drama
Street plays by Kolahal Theatre Workshop in order to create social awareness about stigmatization, inclusivity, and human rights. The street plays have been performed on a regular basis and be it covid-19 or any other type of awareness crisis , the performances use the power of theatre to foster empathy, challenge stereotypes, and inspire meaningful social change.
Seminars/Workshops/Awareness Capaigns
Kolahal Theatre Workshop has been using theatre as an instrument of social change for more than a decade now. Over the years, through its highly influential workshops, seminars, and performances, Kolahal has emerged as one of the most prominent theatre based social intervention groups in Kolkata.
Kolahal has led many theatre workshops, acting classes, drama therapy, and awareness sessions in schools, colleges, universities, corporate organizations, and communities. Such sessions emphasize the importance of creativity, building self-confidence, developing communication skills, expressing emotions, maintaining psychological well-being, good leadership qualities, gender sensitiveness, and
inclusion through theatre and its education.
Saikat Ghosh is an acclaimed theatre practitioner, actor, director, and educator of performing arts with over 17 years of professional experience in theatre, films, and community work. His journey as a theatre artist has been marked by a dedication to the use of performing arts as a means of personal transformation and social consciousness.
Apart from theatre performances, Saikat has been conducting a number of acting workshops, theatre seminars, and theatre therapy classes for students, teachers, NGOs, and communities.Saikat is an ardent supporter of inclusive theatre, having worked extensively with children, youths, and
members of society from varied social strata. He has incorporated various themes of social importance in his workshop and community projects including human rights, women empowerment, education, and social inclusion. In addition to his efforts in creating theatre therapy programs, Saikat has been successful in proving the potential of art in promoting mental wellbeing and teamwork among others. By combining excellence in theatre and social activism, Saikat Ghosh motivates many young performers.
Workshops and awareness campaigns conducted by Kolahal have involved varied communities likethe LGBTQIA+, autistic and intellectually challenged youth, recovering addicts, survivors of acid attacks, women from poor backgrounds, traditional folk artists, and underprivileged children.Kolahal uses drama therapy, street plays, and community-based theatrical productions to highlight issues related to gender equity, mental well-being, social inclusion, human rights, addiction recovery, disability advocacy, and stigma reduction.The celebrated prison reformation activist, social reformer and actor Nigiil Akkaraa has also done much more to advance this initiative through conducting various lectures, seminars, and workshopsat different institutions and organizations, such as Indian Institute of Management, Institute of Engineering & Management (IEM), Vivekananda College, Diamond Harbour Women’s University, Jadavpur University, La Martiniere School, Kalyani University, Father Agnel Management School and College (Mumbai), Jharkhand University, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), British Council, Rabindra Bharati University, Elite College of Engineering, Army Public School, National Law University Odisha, Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, Adamas University, Women's Christian College, Muralidhar Girls’ College, Sister Nivedita University, City College, Behala College, Rani Birla Girls' College, the Regional Institute of Correctional Administration, TCS Project Uran, and numerous corporate firms and other organizations and civil society platforms. Through his involvement in projects like the Roundtable on Civil Society and Corporate Participation in Prisons, these issues have gained more attention through discussions.
Overall, through their work, Nigiil Akkaraa, Saikat Ghosh, and Kolahal Theatre Workshop will continue to provide platforms for engagement, compassion, and empowerment by proving that through theatre and storytelling, change can be made.
