UK artists using solo theatre for a cause

Blurring the gap between art and activism, UK artists are arousing attention on issues like rights of the disabled and racial discrimination through solo theatres.
In the solo drama "If These Spasms could speak," Scottish artist Robert Softley Gale crawls onstage to give audience the lowdown on his life and those of others who have a disability.
During the three-day 'Going SOLO' theatre festival which ends today, Gale who is also a disability rights activist uses humour as a tool to say the most difficult things in a light and easy manner.
Olivier Award winning producer, actor, director and writer Guy Masterson on the other hand highlights religion-based racial discrimination in his 70-minute-long play 'Shylock'.

"There isn't much difference between art and activism. If you start lecturing people no one will understand," Masterson told PTI during the Kolkata leg of his India tour.
Giving a context to the life of Jews in those days, he explains how the character Shylock in the Shakespearean play 'The Merchant of Venice' was a victim of circumstances.
"Jews were always depicted as a comic villain in that period. I hope after watching the play people start sympathising with Shylock," he said.
The theatre festival's director Sanjoy Roy of Teamwork Arts said this year's primary theme explores the challenges of human nature and human spirit of survival.