Examining the Making of the Performance Text of 'Sida - Sri Rama?' through the Lens of Practice as Research

Abstract

This article highlights a practice as research approach that the researcher used to create the “Sida-Sri Rama?” [Sida - the Honor of Rama?] performance text. The approach had four main phases: 1. Deconstruct the old materials, 2. Engage and reimagine selected elements of the materials, 3. Link the reimagined old materials to parallel between contemporary people and events, 4. Devise a performance text from reimagined elements tied to parallel with the present events.
Through news articles, stories, questionnaires, and interviews, the research began selecting key moments to develop a new performance text using a devising theatre approach. All these activities sought to bring stories of the episodes of Sida’s life to create a participatory and interactive piece of devised theater which was called “Sida-Sri Ram?” - giving voice to Sida’s hidden life from Sida’s point of view.
This piece allowed the performance to hover between a mythical space and present reality. This helped the audience to be more aware of women’s neglected roles in society, the damage to her basic rights and family roles. The process, together included an aesthetic concept and basic stage directions which permitted various performed versions of the resulting performance text.