Theatre activities enable learners to find their own unique voice in a foreign language. Often, learners feel anxious about speaking a language that they are learning for a variety of reasons. What is the use of knowing how to conjugate your to be’s or your être if you cannot use it to project who you are or who you want to be to the outside world? For after all, in the wise words of the Bard, All the world’s a stage, and we are merely players who need to show the world who we are!
Experts all agree that the only way to be good at a language is by using it. The Department of French and Francophone Studies, Goa University, offers two elective course, one at the undergraduate level and another at the postgraduate level to hone learners language performance skills. Using a range of improvisation activities, language becomes a means through which learners can collaboratively create their own narratives in a safe space. The courses culminate in grand finale where learners showcase their talents and skills!
I’ve had the honor and privilege to co-create with my students, co-direct with two amazing theatre artists and showcase two very interesting original plays.
‘Pierre et Parvati (2017)’ was co-directed by Jeanne Quignon and was co-written by the students of MA French. As the names of the protagonists suggests, this three act play in French dwelled on the cultural similarities and differences between two culturally distinct countries India and France. After navigating their way through a series of stereotypes, the characters realize their shared humanity Bollywood style!
Pyaar Sans Frontières (2020) was co-directed by Marion Madelénat, a French actress with a 14 year long experience of performing on stage and was co-written by the students of BA and MA French. The title of the play means Love Beyond Borders. The juxtaposition of words from various languages brings out the multilingual and intercultural character of the production. Dialogues were in different variations of French, English, Konkani and Hindi. The three act play was a fruit of discussions on a wide range of subjects touching intercultural themes in India, France and Quebec. Through stage dialogues and audience engagement, pertinent topics such as social discrimination, cleanliness, eco-friendliness, and environment conservation were dealt with. Unfortunately the pandemic struck and the troupe couldn’t perform together. But the show must go on… so we instead released the videos of the dress-rehearsal on the department’s Instagram account and had a virtual reunion documented in the local press with the cast to relive some of the memorable moments!
Natasha 