The COVID-19 crisis goes down as a paralysing turning point in recent times. But as we battle with a virus, can we lose sight of the other medical conditions which threaten lives and restrict mobility? That’s why a digital play to create awareness about spinal cord injuries makes so much sense.

The 75-minute English play titled Turning Point, a collaboration between Kolkata-based theatre group The Red Curtain International and the Association of Spine Surgeons of India (ASSI), premieres today to mark the International Spinal Cord Injury Day, observed worldwide since the last five years, with this year’s theme being the use of technology to keep survivors mentally and physically healthy. The play addresses the safety and sanity of those suffering from spinal cord ailments, considering the narrowed scope of opportunities for the differently-abled in pandemic times. Through the lens of wheelchair-bound tetraplegic Darius, the audience locates a hopeful world where an accident/defect doesn’t spell lifetime gloom. In their own sweet-sour-bitter, emotional and practical ways, friends and family help Darius realign a life despite the handicap.