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India’s Third Gender Explored In The House Of In Between
For some South Asians, Hijras — people with the third gender — are long-haired men decked in makeup and jewelry who show up uninvited to beg and curse for money at weddings or births.
In reality, like many minority groups, the modern lives of Hijras can be unpleasant. What they go through is not too far from our own wider communities' experiences.
Officially recognized in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh and with a history that runs deep in South Asia, the third gender still faces a lack of social and societal acceptance.
Photo Credit: Ingetje Tadros
The New York City and London–based playwright Sevan K. Greene touches on myths that surround Hijras and their lives in his new play, The House of In Between. Greene discussed the prevalence of the third gender issue in countries like India and how he didn't want the play to be politically driven.
"You get a sense of their political place in India through the character’s problems but it was more important to me to treat them with dignity and humanity," he said. "People still have a bigoted fear bordering on disgust about them. I want audiences to understand how similar they are to us even through the differences."
The play follows the life of clan leader Uma, who's not only on a mission to fight social stigmas but also to uphold her family's cultural traditions. A stranger and an act of charity lead these efforts to unimagined events, and Uma will do anything to keep her clan strong.
Audiences will gain a better understanding of often thousand-year-old historic traditions, cultures and communities that globalization is wiping out — all through Indian music and dance.
"They (the musicians) have brought such a layer of depth and authenticity to the piece that help support the story and the characters," Greene said."It’s about seeing the familiar in a new, and perhaps more honest, way. It’s incredible watching them work organically in the moment and creating on-the-fly."
Greene believes that "theatre needs to be honest, risky, and dangerous without resorting to shock tactics" and assures that The House of In Between comes nowhere near "all the harsh realities of not only Hijras, but also women and children in India."
"We need to make room for the grey areas and not live in binary oppositions," he said. "That life is tough and wonderful. That we need to be true to ourselves and never back down from pursuing the truth. That it’s ok to just laugh sometimes at how sh** life can be."
The House of In Between will be showing at the Theatre Royal Stratford East between April 8 and April 30, 2016.
Main Image Photo Credit: www.topyaps.com
Nomaan Khan
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After spending some time in a completely different field, Nomaan decided to drop it all and switch to Mohawk College to pursue his longtime interest in the world of Journalism. His experience working in multimedia platforms has helped him develop exceptional skills in thinking on his feet, being ...
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