The Valley
of the Quest
The Valley of the Quest takes us to Bassi, a small village in rural Rajasthan, India, where 12 young adults come together to explore what ‘Quest’ means to them, and the impact of the pandemic on their dreams, aspirations, and the world around them.
Most participants have no experience in theatre, or have ever performed on stage. They are shy, inhibited, but full of stories, and are excited to share them. 10 days of an intensive Theatre workshop with our Master Practitioner, Pankaj Gupta, provides that safe space, where they can delve deeper into themselves, and find the confidence to share their dreams and vulnerabilities. This intense process culminates in a play titled
‘Nayi Khoj, Nayi Udaan’ (A New Quest, A New Flight).
On the penultimate day, the play is showcased for the community members of Danau Kalan village in a ‘safe-live event’. The audience members are from diverse socio-economic backgrounds. Most notably, there are health workers and local governing body members, in addition to workers of Doosra Dashak (our partner organization) and women and children from the community.
The Work
The play traces the journey of Babu, a migrant labourer who has moved to the big city with dreams of success and comfort, but has his world turned upside down because of the pandemic. He represents thousands of migrant labourers who found themselves jobless, overnight, thanks to the sudden lockdown.
The play explores the changes Babu and his wife, Lakshmi, perceive in their village on their return, through diverse stories of struggle, pain, fortitude and new strength!
Nayi Khoj, Nayi Udaan The Valley of the Quest
The Process
‘The Valley of the Quest’ has been an incredible experience for our team, our young participants as well as the community members. This play is the start of a beautiful journey, one of courage, resilience and hope!
As our young participants revisit the past 16 months, they reflect on how they have adapted to a new reality, what they have shed and the wisdom they have almost subliminally, acquired.
The Process Video The Valley of the Quest
The Gallery
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