Facilitation and Theatre.

I enjoy dabbling in conservation education and feel the need to work upon my faculties so as to improve, to perform better. In other words I tried to analyse and break-up what little I do into multiple areas. From these I narrowed down on what I was keen to work upon with the caveat that opportunities too would guide what I ended up pursuing.

These included communication and facilitation. Two events, one each on back to back Saturday’s, provided interesting opportunities. These were organized at Lamakaan which meant that I ended up gorging on chai and samosas. J B Priestly author of the classic essay ‘On doing nothing’ and would have been very happy to come to Lamakaan. Besides a host of options (plays, film-screenings, book-releases and else) it also offers you the space to come and do nothing, just be. The importance of this can hardly be over-emphasized. I place below snippets from either event.

First was an event on facilitation; ‘Introduction to Process Facilitation’ by Ajit Kamath and organized by CELOL. We began by discussing, putting on charts what we all understood by terms like facilitation, presenter, trainer and coach. ‘Facilitation does not warrant knowledge of the subject, as in one may not be aware of the subject’ was a line (by a participant) that led to some comments. The facilitator then shared of facilitation being all about divergence and convergence and that most of us are trainers who need to move towards being facilitators.

We participated in a couple of activities to clarify the basics. One of these had each of us put forth our positions on 6 statements. These statements were given to us on a printed paper and scale explained. We then had to form groups based on our stand, engage in conversations with co-participants who had take other stands and attempt to convince them. An interesting point put forth was that of energizers being passé, the activities need to be interesting enough! It is easier to carry just a laptop with a power-point as opposed to charts, pens and other stuff but it also ensures a lower level of involvement! What struck me as we deliberated on facilitation was when (if) does one draw a line and communicate a point. This could - for example - be a point in contradiction to the law or the agreed upon values!

While the summing up had sharing of definitions and clarifications I enjoyed stories. Especially two of them that pertained to a company manufacturing paints. The company had banned power-points in its internal meetings for multiple reasons which included people dozing off and after 3 all power-points appearing similar (here I felt as if someone had snatched my words!); the points had to be conveyed more interestingly. The company had also made it compulsory for people joining it – irrespective of the level in hierarchy – to paint walls during the first week. There would be few better ways to teach all employees about its product I wondered. It helps people to know and feel what they are selling, budgeting and designing!

Image: Subba Reddy

Next was a theatre workshop for children by Sanjna Kapoor; ‘Just Imagine’ organized by Junoon and Lamakaan. It was primarily meant for the younger ones with their parents and teachers joining in. Then there were some like me who sat on the fringes.  Facilitator laid the basic rules and shared program outline at the onset. 

The beginning had all participants join in actions that would free them of their inhibitions and make them comfortable; from becoming toasters to broken-toasts and responding (with actions) to one liners or even single words. After a small discussion on ‘What does an actor do?’ an exercise on eye-contact and memory followed. This we were told if one had time one could go on with for much longer.

One of the activities had participants walk around ‘the deck of a ship’ and then form groups of 4. These groups had to then make objects using their bodies based on a pointer. K it was and the groups came up with kite, kettle, key, knife, key-holder and kitchen. The younger ones of course performed better. The same was repeated with group of six and a separate pointer. The suggestion ‘Throw out the first 3 ideas you get – these usually are those that most get’ set me thinking.

Another activity had the facilitator give chits bearing words to participants. Participants had to meet co-participants and form groups such that the chits in their group formed a meaningful sentence. One that was grammatically correct. An English teacher – from amongst the participants – was given the role to look up the grammar! This sentence was then to be shown, read and enacted for all participants.

Seeing Sanjna Kapoor, a body of happy energies, within the circle formed by the younger ones reminded me of Lionel Messi flowing on the football field. Sports had crept in my mind when she had stated ‘we need to practice and practice so body and brain become one’! As I saw the event I realized how, perhaps, within larger boundaries, there needs to be space for some chaos to generate energies. Too much structure and discipline drain energies!

Image: Subba Reddy

Many thanks to CELOL, Lamakaan, Ajit Kamath, Sanjna Kapoor, Subba Reddy, co-participants and the wonderful chai – samosas!