Urchins

Introduction

Urchins, established in February 2013, is GGV’s official theatre and drama club. It nurtures theatrical talent, revives campus theatre culture, and empowers students through stagecraft. Urchins delivers original productions, street plays, and participates in competitive fests across India.

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” — William Shakespeare

Objectives

• Instill appreciation for theatre as a medium of education and social change.
• Train students in acting, direction, stage management, and scriptwriting.
• Provide a platform for socio-political and emotional narratives.
• Represent GGV in national-level intercollegiate fests.
• Use drama for civic awareness and creative engagement.

Services Offered

• Weekly practice sessions covering acting, improvisation, and voice modulation.
• Annual productions: street plays, stage dramas, and mono acts.
• Performance opportunities in cultural festivals of premier institutes.
• Workshops with theatre professionals and alumni performers.
• Peer mentoring in stage direction and script development.

Volunteer Engagement

• Teacher Coordinator: Prof. Manish Shrivastava (English & Foreign Languages)
• Student coordinators and co-coordinators manage script curation, rehearsals, and logistical planning.
• Selection is merit-based and aligned with contribution and dedication to theatre practice.

Activities and Outreach

• Nukkad Natak (street plays) on gender equality, environmental conservation, and mental health.
• Annual Theatre Showcase featuring Hindi and English plays.
• Participation in Spring Fest (IIT Kharagpur), NIT Raipur, IIT Bhilai, IIIT Raipur.
• Collaborative workshops with NGOs and civic bodies.
• Theatre-in-Education programs for schools and rural outreach.

Urchins Institutional Snapshot

Impact and Outcomes

• Won accolades at Spring Fest (IIT Kharagpur), IIT Bhilai, NIT Raipur, IIIT Raipur.
• Trained 200+ students in theatre arts since inception.
• Alumni working in media, film production, and literature.
• Performances used as training tools in NSS and student welfare drives.

Story Highlight: Ayush, a shy science student, overcame stage fright through Urchins, ultimately mentoring juniors and gaining confidence through performance.

NEP 2020 Alignment

• Section 4.27: Embeds art-integrated education in classroom transactions, promoting joyful learning and Indian cultural ethos.
• Urchins ensures creative expression, experiential learning, and holistic student development beyond textbooks.

Contact Person

Prof. Manish Shrivastav
Coordinator, Urchins
Guru Ghasidas Vishwavidyalaya, Bilaspur (C.G.)
+91 94252 27387

“Urchins — Because some stories deserve more than words. They deserve a stage.”