Echoes

A children's-led performance resonating their collective voices through experimentation, reflection, and collaboration

Echoes is an inter-regional performance project that engaged young people aged 13–18 years from Thakurgaon and Khulna and created a collaborative art performance by exploring their collective voices with their respective experiences of climate change.

Through in-person visit in the form of residencies and online interactions, 7 kids from Balia village in Thakurgaon (situated in the north of Bangladesh) and 7 kids from Channir Chak, Khulna (southern Bangladesh, near the Sundarbans) explored each other’s climate realities and co-created an experimental performance that reflected their thoughts, ideas, and experiences. 

While the north is facing the dangers of drought due to climate issues, the south is facing the exact opposite, i.e., rising sea levels. The communities where the kids belong have seen rapid changes in the available water sources in the last few decades. Dependent on agriculture and fisheries, the communities are facing the brunt of the climate crisis, although they are barely contributing to it. Many of the families in their communities are on the verge of abandoning agriculture and finding other work. In Balia, the rivers and canals have dried up, and rain has become erratic due to climate change. The farmers depend completely on groundwater for cultivation. While in Channir Chak, the farmers are dependent on the water from the Dhaki River, where the salinity is increasing every year and the rainy season has also become unpredictable. 

The performance was based on how children living at opposite ends of the climate extremes view the crisis and how they imagine the transition toward the future together. Facilitated and guided by Gidree Bawlee and Shashmul Arts, Echoes was a children's-led performance resonating their collective voices through experimentation, reflection, and collaboration. Apart from creating a strong sense of solidarity among the participating children and their communities, the performance created a scope for the children to look forward to a better world with a new perspective.

Credits:

Performers: Sunil Barman, Amal Barman, Tithi Rani, Srabonti Rani, Ruposhi Rani, Apon Barman, Shantona Rani, Noyon Barman, Champa Rani, Shumi Rani, Tithi Rani, Asha Rani, Jayanti Dhali, Pratima Tudu, Moumita Sardar, Parban Ray, Mithila Dhali

Gidree Bawlee team: Kamruzzaman Shadhin, Salma Jamal Moushum, Amal tudu, Shanto Barman, Somaru Barman, Shahinur Begum, Sanita Rani

Shwasmul Arts team: Moinuddin moni, Bishwajit Roy, Bhabotosh Ray, Lipika Ray, Gour Ray, Supriya Ray, Avijit Ray

Photography and videography: Firoz Al Sabah

Gidree Bawlee Foundation of Arts (based in Balia, Thakurgaon) collaboration with Shwasmul Arts (Khulna), 2022-2023

Commissioned by Samdani Art Foundation for Dhaka Art Summit 2023

Part of Bangladesh weather station - find out more here.