Sukhmanch literally means a stage that gives you happiness; happiness both to the audiences and to the performers. Sukhmanch
Theatre is an initiative by Ms. Shilpi Marwaha to create a platform for theatre
enthusiasts to learn the craft of theatre and at the same time evolve towards
being better individuals in the society through street and stage theatre
performances.
Shilpi Marwaha is a renowned name in Delhi Theatre Circuit
and beyond. She has been active in theatre for over a decade and has been a
leading voice particularly against woman atrocities through her street plays.
One of great contributions to theatre has been reviving the street plays. Her
passion, commitment and charismatic presence has uplfited the street play
scenario and has made it appear cool and attractive to youth of today.
Some of her popuplar stage plays include the path breaking
solo, "A Woman Alone" of Franca Rame has been descibed as one of the
boldest plays in the country. She has also worked in "Ramakali", an
adapation of The Good Woman of Szechwan, Dario Fo's Chukayenge Nahi(adaptation
of Cant pay wont pay) & Operation Three Star, G D Deshpande's Raaste,
Rajesh Kumar's Ambedkar Aur Gandhi & Hindu Code Bill, Swadesh Deepak's
Court Martial, Premchand's Moteram Ka Satyagrah, Mohan Rakesh's Lehron Ke
Rajhans amongst many others.
She has not only been active in theatre but done both
mainstream and parrallel cinema in form movies like "Raanjhana"
directed by Anand L Rai, Inheritors of Earth by T V Chandran. She has been part
of myriads of documentaries, shows and worked with oscar award winning director
Ross Kaufman. She won the best actress award in 2010 in the "international
short and sweet festival". She was also the face of the national award
winning documentary on the Nirbhaya Andolan called "Daughters of Mother
India" directed by Vibha Bakshi. Receipient of awards from Delhi
Commission for Woman, AAS and many others, Ms. Marwaha has not just been
involved in theatre as an actor but has earned quite a repute as an actor
trainer. She has conducted workshops all over the country in various leading
institutions like IIT DELHI, IT-BHU, IIM's, Delhi University, Shoolini
University, Katha(NGO), working with street children and conducting workshops
for school children as well. *Many of her trained actors are now working in the
Indian film and television industry in different capacities and a few have
turned actor trainers themselves*. *Shilpi has also penned down three stories
namely, "Apratyaksh", a love story of an Eunuch, "Kaash",
intercaste love saga, "Purity" on the slut shaming tendencies of the
society and "Rangmanch" elucidating the struggles involved in the
life of an aspiring actor trying to fulfill his dream. All these dramas have
been enacted on stage and been very well received by the audiences.* Losing a
colleague to a road accident made Ms. Marwaha adapt Anton Chekov's classic
story, "Misery" for the modern day audience adding her personal touch
to it.
Losing her mother at an early age due to medical negligence
had a deep and devastating impact on Ms. Marwaha. It was this blow that made
her take up socio political theatre as her career as she wanted to dedicate her
life for raising her voice against the injustice and inequality prevelant in
the society. It was this zest of Ms. Marwaha that she became one of the leading
voice in the anti corruption crusade and also took the lead in the protests in
the "Nirbhaya andolan". She has performed thousands of street plays
to raise awareness on atrocities against women and continues to do so on
various other topics like farmer suicides, acid attack, environment, voting
awareness etc.
Ms. Marwaha decided to begin the group in 2017 in the memory
of her late beloved mother whom she lost at a young age and whose name
"Sukhvarsha" inspired the name of her group. Her vision is not just
create good actors but also give the society sensitive and aware individuals.
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