Founder

Gopal Aryal (officially Bhawani Aryal) is an actor, director and social theatre practitioner based in Nepal. He has been using theatre as a tool for children, youth and women empowerment, social transformation and education in Nepal since 2007. He practices Theatre of the Oppressed, Theatre for Living, and “Theatre for Social Healing” and is a professional actor in Nepal.

Gopal is the founder of the International Center for Social Theater, Nepal and Lukeko Gaun, a village for arts and farming. Gopal has conducted hundreds of theatre workshops and has directed many social theatre performances. His psychosocial healing and community integration work in Nepal after the 2015 earthquake was impactful, reaching 480,000 people. Gopal has travelled to Africa, Europe and America to practice his works. Gopal is a man of action and loves to travel and facilitate live workshops.

Global Partnership Lead

Uri Noy Meir is a highly experienced trainer and facilitator specializing in eco-social arts and transformative decision-making. His approach is grounded in over a decade of work across global initiatives, using theater and embodied arts to create meaningful dialogues. He has extensive facilitation experience with organizations such as the ImaginAction network and ANCI Umbria’s PUZZLE and LIFE Projects And as a mentor and teacher of interactive theater at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt.

A student of Social Presencing Theatre with Arawana Hayashi, and trained in Dragon Dreaming with founder John Croft, Uri combines deep experiential knowledge with a dedication to environmental and social causes. He has facilitated a range of artistic inquiries and eco-social workshops, including projects around the world. His work is informed by a unique blend of Theatre of the Oppressed, ecological arts, and applied theatre, creating powerful spaces for personal and societal transformation. Uri is together with Lukeko Gaun from the beginning of its dream.

Outreach Coordinator USA

Jessica Marta is a dedicated community organizer and performance activist with over 35 years of experience working in poor communities across the USA. Recognizing the transformative power of performance, Jessica has created opportunities for creativity and growth, firmly believing that performance is fundamental to human development. 

In addition to her activism, Jessica works as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner. For the past three decades, she has been deeply involved with the East Side Institute in New York which has shaped her perspective on the vital connection between community building and mental health.  

She is passionate about the potential of Lukeko Gaun  to become a vibrant center for the international performance community.

Theatre and arts programs Lead

Kiran is a person with a diverse range of passions. He studied theatre in Denmark and is an emerging theatre practitioner in Nepal.  He is a director, actor, songwriter, singer/vocalist, and music creator. He weaves creativity and innovation into every project he undertakes. His works are guided by a belief in the power of art to connect, inspire, and evoke emotions. He has been involved with Lukeko Gaun since 2021.

Youth Programs Lead

Manoj has been living in Lukeko Gaun since 2019 and working to create and run since then. He is a wonderful organizer, manager, caretaker and a cook. He carries young and vibrant energy to bring joy among people. He is handy and puts his heart into creating DIY projects.

Farming and livestock programs Lead

Ramesh (Nick Name ‘Rabi’) has been with Lukeko Gaun since the beginning of the project and has helped to construct some projects in the past. He now lives in Lukeko Gaun with his family and leads the farming and livestock programs. He was also involved as an actor with our sister theatre company International Center for Social Theatre (ICST) Nepal in 2018-19.

Content Creator & Multimedia Designer

With over a decade of experience in branding, marketing, and creative storytelling, Utsav combines a deep appreciation and research mindset for Nepali history, cultural heritage with raw, authentic and organic design techniques to bring the village's vision to life.  

At Lukeko Gaun, Utsav focuses on creating visuals and campaigns that tell the inspiring stories of its artists and farmers, elevating the village as a beacon of creativity and sustainability for the world to admire.  Utsav was one of the major key persons behind Lukeko Gaun introduction video and opening ceremony. Utsav is also a founder of Rhi Inc., now based in Ontario, Canada.