Nishu Dikshit combines elements of theatre in her storytelling show ‘Guchcha: A Collection of Stories’

Nishu Dikshit combines elements of theatre in her storytelling show ‘Guchcha: A Collection of Stories’

Nishu Dikshit is one of the thousands, or even millions, in India who get an IT job with their passions lying elsewhere, mostly art. She has appeared in shows like Aakhri Sach on Disney+ Hotstar, Criminal Justice, Mai, and Operation MBBS. She is slated to feature in an upcoming Netflix film, portraying a sportsperson. Her acting journey started in Bengaluru, where she used to work in an IT firm and did theatre part-time. At one point, she quit her job to pursue theatre exclusively. She produced and acted in plays. 

She then moved to Mumbai. With theatres shut during the pandemic-induced lockdown, she looked for another artistic outlet.

“I took to writing — something I had never tried. I wrote a few stories. I did this mainly to express myself during the lockdown. However, as time passed, I began to contemplate sharing these stories with others and possibly performing them as well,” says Nishu. 

The shows, to her delight, were well-received. When she wrote about 10 stories, she noticed a common thread connecting them. She also identified underlying themes in her stories. “So, I decided to weave them together and created a one-hour solo show.”

Thus, Guchcha: A Collection of Stories was born. Nishu’s storytelling encompasses the rugged terrain of Ghaziabad, the rain-soaked streets of Bagafa (in Tripura), the chaotic energy of Mumbai, and heartwarming tales of friendship forged in Bengaluru.

What sets Guchcha apart from a regular storytelling event is Nishu’s inventive use of props, real-time changes in hairstyle, and elements of costume design that complement each story.

“I incorporated subtle elements of theatre in my storytelling. For instance, there’s a noticeable transformation in hairstyles that symbolises the passage of time, taking the character from the age of nine to 30. These hairstyle changes are accompanied by the use of various props scattered around the performance area,” she says.