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        A new theatre group Four Es formed by Rasa Ramana Sunritya Aalaya (RASA) will be different from the existing ones, as this theatre group will feature artistes who are mentally challenged and those with Down's Syndrome and learning difficulties.

        The Four Es (Explore Experience, Express, Enjoy) will be a complete professional group which will present productions every year and provide training to each of the special artistes to perform on par with any of the others.

        'Participants will be trained into becoming professional theatre artistes and will be paid stipends for their work. The group will come up with a new production every year and RASA foresees it becoming a true part of the entertainment industry'. 'Such a troupe has not been formed and it does not exist so far in any part of the world', claims Hemalatha Manohar, representative of RASA.

        With the final audition over, every set of students presented a three mini-solo performance of dance and drama. Among the participating artistes, RASA will select 15 of them for being part of this troupe.

        RASA is a voluntary non-profit organisation working in the field of rehabilitating children with special needs. The organisation, which has been in the field for 17 years, uses a methodology known as Theatre for Holistic Development (THD), which focuses on the special needs of each differently-abled child.

        THD uses the different aspects of theatre such as dance, music and mime for a spontaneous learning process to stimulate these individuals. For further details, contact 65281970.