January 2025                      WORKSHOP 16/PERFORMANCE 1

Claiming Space: A Day of Rehearsal, Resistance, and Reflection

The day began with uncertainty—missing a team member, searching for a rehearsal space, and navigating tensions around timing and logistics. Despite it all, we found our rhythm. A neighborhood park opened its gates to us at 3 PM, and soon the laughter and movement of our group filled the space. As participants rehearsed scenes for the Forum Theatre performance, we spoke about trans artists—how they began from the same place as us, and how far they've come. It was important to confront the transphobia often present in the community and open the space with dialogue and care.

Theatre that Heals and Provokes

Rehearsals were raw and real—some actors struggled with lines, others with focus, but when allowed to improvise freely, their authenticity shone through. The actors embodied stories of stigma, self-image, and health with increasing confidence. Then came the Article 14 Live team, gently capturing voices—only from those comfortable sharing—while respecting anonymity for others. It was moving to see our participants with microphones, facing cameras, and speaking as artists and thinkers. From there, we moved to the gallery where the vibrant artworks of transwomen artists left our group spellbound. For many, it was a moment of revelation: that they, too, had a right to spaces like this. That their art, their stories, belong here.

Dialogue Across Borders

The evening’s performance was electric. Our play—centered around sex workers as artists—was followed by three rounds of Forum Theatre interventions. Transwomen and audience members stepped into roles, raising questions about class, dignity, and belonging. A transwoman passionately declared, “Our blood is the same,” stirring a powerful response. Some participants felt sidelined in that moment, while others spoke up about dreams of occupying galleries with their own work. The final round ended with a standing ovation and a spontaneous chorus of “Hum Honge Kamyaab,” as hugs, laughter, and solidarity rippled through the space. Plans were made—to paint murals in Kamathipura, to collaborate, to return. We left knowing something had shifted.