Delhi to Dubai, a forum theatre campaign, kicked off on Friday at Sushila Koirala Theatre in Biratnagar. According to organisers, the campaign aims to increase awareness on gender-based violence and human trafficking. The play is written by Bhabasagar Ghimirey and will be staged in twenty different venues in Morang—in Dangihat, Tetariya, Yangshila, Jhurkiya, Kerabari, Amardaha, and Keraun, among others.

The forum theatre—Theatre of the Oppressed, as its pioneer Augusto Boal called it—is a forum for teaching people, especially those from the marginalised communities, how to change their world.  The director of the current campaign, Anup Baral, said that they are still researching how the forum theatre could be used to maximise awareness on gender-based violence in Morang district. 

“Research has identified Morang district as a high risk zone for trafficking of women and girls as it serves as both the source and the transit area for sexual trafficking,” organisers said. 

Spearheaded by Actors’ Studio, the ongoing event is part of a research campaign jointly launched by Linnaeus University, Sweden, and Kathmandu Medical College. 

Pranab Dahal, a researcher r epresenting Linnaeus University, said that the ongoing campaign was initiated after more than two years of baseline survey of the sample population, according to which, out of 2000 individuals, 14 percent reported physical violence, 9 percent reported sexual violence and 28 percent reported facing emotional violence in the district. 

“The earlier two phases of forum theatre intervention had been successfully completed, and the evaluation of the impact and efficacy of the forum theatre in reducing gender-based violence and sexual trafficking will commence, after current final forum theatre round.”

The play will feature actors Deeya Maskey, Kamal Devkota, Anoj Pandey, Manish Niraula, Binita Thapa Magar, Prembarsha Khadka and Suraj Malla. Managed by Dev Neupane, the play will feature music by Pralaya Chaulagai and Dipendra Sitaula.