Feature

Performance literature workshop at Eastern University by Brine Pickles

Trisa Gloria Rodrigues

LATENT minds can create great things if they are given the scope to nurture their talents. The thoughts that resides in the mind can come out through writing. The Performance Literature Workshop conducted by Brine Pickles at Eastern University gave the enthusiastic students such an opportunity to explore themselves through creative writing. The Pickles gave some effective tips to improvise the art of writing short stories, plays, poems, lyrics and then to perform them with a touch of brilliance.

All of us had to submit our own writings to participate in the workshop. Initially I was mortified, as I have never taken up my pen previously to write creatively as such. But fated against my nemesis, I submitted an article, which turned out to be fine. Some of my friends are poets themselves, so they dropped a few pieces, which are, nothing less than marvelous. Some of us were a little “iffy” about whether they'll be selected at all. So it was pretty exciting when everyone who submitted a write-up was in! We got our chance to share our pieces at the reading session after they've been edited with inspiring comments.

I must say that watching a drama is pretty entertaining but the efforts put in it behind the screen may require overcoming of fear. Known as the' mad writer' of Brine Pickles Mr. Idrak Hossain felt as if he was making us bored to death with his presentation which was actually the opposite for us because we got a chance to edit our own scenes, that turned out to be hilarious. The scenes were about persuading other students to join the workshop. When asked by a fellow student to join the creative writing workshop Mihir replied in a sinister yet drunk note 'what workshop', 'who is Brine Pickles?' This left everyone laughing their hearts out thinking who really is Brine Pickles, is it a guy named Brine with pickles in his hand?

Getting into a character is quite a job because actors have to get into the character to deliver a spellbounding performance in front of the audience.Hasan Ameen Salauddin is quite a character himself with loads of attitude to give out to the audience when he's into the character. In the beginning of his session, he entered the room and we all thought he was drunk. Later on we came to know that it was all an act and he was just playing the drunken man. I acted on stage only once, which did not help me get rid of the stage fright. But we ended up acting as the characters we hate the most where Irene turned out to be a baby sucking her thumb acting all 'you don't love me' which was awesome. Flora made a fool of herself by screwing up on stage but she held herself together until she performed a touchy song, which was pleasant. Who would have thought that you have to make faces in front of a human-mirror and jump like a monkey to beat the stage fright!

We were kind of shaken when Rubaid Iftekhar Mahbub told us that he was going to spread the 'madness'. But unfortunately time fell short and he could not finish his part. As I never attempted a short story before, doing it in ten minutes was pretty challenging as Marufa shared her story about her mom's crankiness in the morning, which literally gave us a feel of her sad life. For those who want to be beautiful take Clara's advice. Don't believe that 'beauty is skin deep'. So desperate people running to Persona and Spas listen carefully: you don't need any parlour, just keep a blameless soul and go on smiling a genuine one, and that'll do!

When Tushar's poem's last stanza turned out to be about his goldfish rather than his long anticipated child, we were quite shocked.

As Mihir read out his story about losing his cell phone to a shrewd stealer, its title 'Donation' came out to be the biggest irony, it amazed us all for he has come a long way with his writing. We once again laughed our hearts out to meet the bhot bhoti CNG driver in a sailor's hat and a scarf when Mr. Theotonius Gomes, Lecturer, Eastern University, literally performed his 'Banglish' poem called “The pesky CNG Driver to his would-be Wife”. His poetry session amazed us as we came across the key features of writing lyrics and poems. History was made when Tanvir Hasan Malik, Assistant Professor, Eastern University was officially anointed as an emerging poet by Theo sir.

The mock-anointing scene followed the style of anointing a knight. This added spice to the reading session as we had a chance to listen to some of his pieces which made us really happy. Sabreena Ahmed while giving us tips about writing short stories made us realize how little things that happen in life can inspire a well-shaped and successful story.

Poetry makes you see the implied imageries and stories make you live in it, performing something to please the audience makes the effort worthwhile and the best part of all these is you can express yourself. From this workshop I have learnt things I can carry throughout my life and career. Everyone overcame their stiffness to go out there and act out their writing creatively. It was a joy spending time with such a group of people who do what they love and they do it in style. So thank you, Brine Pickles for presenting to us such a delightful session.

(Trisha studies English literature at Eastern University )