Who loiters at sunny parks, goes to low-cost bars, or sips tea underneath flyovers? A brand new theatrical-poetry present on the town investigates the gendered nature of public areas.
‘Dwell. Love. Loaf.’ by theatrical poet-writer Nupur Saraswat is a commentary on the unstated, unwritten contracts that govern when girls exit, the place and why to make sure their security. “Placed on a jacket if you find yourself within the cab,” the Indian-Singaporean artiste, at present based mostly in Bengaluru, provides an instance.
Some tacitly enter right into a “surveillance contract”, sharing GPS coordinates with household or discovering consolation in CCTV cameras, she provides.
Because of this, girls unknowingly quit their proper “to have enjoyable”, “discover” and “reside a full life”. Their outings are purpose-driven, to go to work, meet any individual, or journey, she says. “I’m 27 and I’ve contained (so many needs) as a result of I used to be looking for my security,” admits Nupur.
The present, which makes use of theatrical efficiency, spoken phrase poetry, motion, recorded interviews and her experiences as a solo traveller, was 5 years within the making.
In 2017, Nupur was denied entry right into a lodge she had booked on-line allegedly as a result of their coverage barred “single girls”. Her name for assist went viral. She began an internet petition in opposition to sexist insurance policies, which, she claims, triggered lodge and ticketing platforms to confess solo vacationers with out discrimination.
The present isn’t as a lot an try and reclaim the general public areas for communities chopping throughout gender and sophistication as it’s about acknowledging the issue. “I need the viewers to watch the demography of people that get to loiter,” she indicators off.
* At a number of venues on August 5, 6, 7 and 17. Particulars on @nupur_speaks on Instagram.
