Ms. Nimisha Narayanan, PhD scholar under the supervision of Prof M S Siva Raju, Department of Dance, Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad (UoH) presented a paper titled, “Narrating Tragedies through Commemorative Performances: A study of Makkam Theyyam, Payyanur and Behula, Purulia” at the International Federation for Theatre Research (1FTR) Conference, 2024 held at the University of Philippines Diliman, Manila, Philippines on 18th July, 2024. The theme of the conference was Our States of Emergency: Theatres and Performances of Tragedy.
Nimisha’s paper dealt with the performative texts of the two artforms and how they create patterns among the performer and the performance, performance and the audience and audience and the performer. The paper analysed how tragedy acts as a driving force in both the narratives and how it leads to finding creative potential in creating theatrical performances. She presented her paper in the New Scholars Forum session titled, “Aesthetics of Violence in Trauma and Tragedy” chaired and moderated by Prof Mark Flieshman from University of Capetown, South Africa.
Nimisha’s participation was supported by a travel grant from the UoH Institute of Eminence (IoE).