Don’t pour from an empty cup

The duo performs at a previous drama and storytelling workshop

Caregiving for your kin, especially parents and grandparents, in India is inherently tied to a sense of duty and family values - it's something you do, no questions asked. And while most people willingly turn caregivers for their loved ones, the challenges, the isolation, the burnout and compassion fatigue that follow rarely find space in daily discourse. "Moreover, when you're taking care of a parent or a grandparent, they continue to remember that relationship and not the fact that you are the parent in the relationship now. Even in your closest circles, you're unable to have these conversations because of so-called duties and family values," points out Vijji Chari, a leadership coach and storytelling practitioner from Bengaluru.

To create a safe space for caregivers of older adults to express themselves, find joy, feel seen and build resilience, Chari, along with Madhu Smriti Shukla, a drama and storytelling practitioner, has come up with The Magic Shop, a virtual psychodrama and storytelling-based workshop series.

Madhu Smriti Shukla and Vijji Chari

The series is part of a larger theatre-based research programme, Conversations in Drama, which is supported by Museum of Art & Photography, Bengaluru. Shukla shares that Conversations in Drama seeks to make mental health and wellbeing accessible to all. Open to only 15 participants, The Magic Box was initiated by the duo inspired by their experiences with caregiving. "We felt that storytelling and sharing can be a healing, connecting experience as drama-based processes can bring in joy and objectivity," Shukla elaborates.

Over three months, participants will meet digitally for six sessions. There will be an exchange of personal stories, storytelling, and drama-based games. The duo also hopes to steer the conversation on mental health, that's often limited to mental illnesses, towards mental wellbeing. Through the sessions, they hope that caregivers will explore the emotions they're experiencing, who they are as caregivers, how this role engages with their larger identity, and what are some creative practices that allow them to build compassion for themselves. "The idea is to talk about how, in simple ways, we can take care of ourselves while offering care to others," Chari signs off.

From June 12 to August 21
Call 9886283739
Free