One of the core foundations of a connected & purposeful community are their "rituals". They create predictability, bonding and reverence to shared values. For our family, one of our most looked forward to ritual is attending the annual Ishara Puppet Theatre Festival! We have been watching this since the past 11 eleven years (minus Covid years) It is a pure sensory delight and ignites all those latent childhood urges we have been suppressing since we grew up.
As I sat watching the show last night managed all by one single person on stage - I could not help but wonder what can puppetry teach us about holding spaces. Of course one can learn so much from the stories (the content) themselves - but we can learn so much more from the process and behaviours of the puppeteers!
Orientation helps build ease
First Ishara's founder comes on stage and introduces the festival, how it started, a bit about its journey, what their values are in organising these festivals and what the audience can expect today! Many of us in the audience are repeat attendees - but still these few minutes - with Dadi's warm and inviting presence helps us arrive in the space. It helps us connect with Ishara and their "way" of being and doing.
Values in Action
They always start and end on time - even as the audience was pouring in. The Ambassadors/ Guests sit among the audience only - no special seating! They have operated the festival over the years without any corporate sponsorship - this means that we get to the announcement very last minute (living values also have costs that we'd rather bear that not live the value!) - but Ishara can do what it wants to do in its purest of form.
Co-create the experience with the audience
Many times we feel the pressure to be the star of the show and that we are alone responsible for the experience! But puppeteers are masterful at involving the audience in co-creating the experience. Yesterday, the puppeteer set up the whole stage along with the audience. He taught lines of the chorus of the main song to everyone. He set up the audience to be able to engage through the show. So whenever he would start humming the tune, the audience would start singing. At the end, all the kids and adults were humming the tune and singing the words... "Imagine......"
Create the element of surprise
The puppeteer day before in a chasing scene was sprinkling water at one of the characters and of course that water would splash at the audience too - leading to sounds of AHsss and OHsss.... at the end it seemed as if the whole bucket will be hurled at us and what came out was confectionary instead! Oh the feeling that created - of relief yet wonder and surprise. Almost all puppeteers never show the puppets in full right away - there is an element of slowness and almost anxious waiting - to really build up the curiosity of what is about to come!
Work with what happens - improvise
With any live performances, there are always goof ups! This time it was pigeons pooping right on the stage (and only on the stage!) all through the show. How did they handle it - Dadi called it out right upfront with a laugh and just prepared everyone for it:)
The puppeteers ask the audiences questions (last night it was jokes) - the risk here are so many - many people wanting to speak, not understanding what people are saying in terms of accent, or the person answering not understanding what they are supposed to say...The puppeteer heard 3-4 jokes and chose one to keep referring to through the performance:) It was so delightful to hear one's own joke being referred to!
Help people feel supported to engage
Related to the risk mentioned above, when puppeteers ask for volunteers from the audience - it can be tough to manage both for the puppeteer and for the volunteers. You have limited time and need people to understand your instructions and do what is needed. The volunteers feel the adrenaline rush but are also scared/ anxious if they will understand what is needed and if they would do it well enough without being blinded by the light and overwhelmed with the sounds. The puppeteer yesterday was so so masterful at acknowledging every little action of the volunteers - "hey by the way you are great at taking directions..." or "hey, you got the lyrics of the song so quickly...." or "your height of holding the cloth is just right..." - small small appreciations that helps the volunteers feel confident and acknowledged and ready to do more.
Close well
Once the show is over and the audience is still in rapt wonder, Dadi comes on stage, acknowledges all the puppeteers and their support teams. He invites the Chief Guest to come and gift (in cloth bags which I love) the puppeteers. This little ritual helps everyone to "transfer out" of the experience through appreciation, acknowledgement and gratitude. And they always talk about what is coming next!
I am sure as I attend more shows (we have 4 more lined up this week), new learnings will come to light:)
If you are in Delhi and want magic in your evenings, check out Ishara!
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