We are all children lost in a forest; petrified by sounds, echoes, silhouettes, and outlines; we continue to live because we love." The resounding line from the Marathi play Aranya Kiran A ray of light in a forest suits the current nomadic condition of the 47-year-old Awishkar Theatre, which does not have a rightful rehearsal and performance space in Mumbai.

Awishkar-s lack of permanent space has been an issue for a while. At this point, the group operates from a borrowed auditorium Mini Theatre of the PL Deshpande Maharashtra Kala Academy where they presented their 175th production Aranya Kiran on August 2. One of its founders, 87-year-old Arun Kakade, calls Awishkar a "group of theatre-crazy wanderers," for whom the opening show, involving 20-odd artistes on and off stage, was crucial, not just because its shows will speak of the group-s staying power, but because it is a tribute to their late director-playwright Chetan Datar who passed away at an untimely age of 44 in August, 10 years ago.