The historic Gaiety Theatre in Shimla came alive as 19 schools participated in a three-day immersive rehearsal and training session, ahead of a major student theatre festival. Organized by the Keekli Charitable Trust, this initiative was a celebration of youthful creativity, collaboration, and stagecraft.
Guided by senior theatre legends Sriniwas Joshi, Bhupender Sharma, Jawahar Kaul, and Vivek Mohan, alongside six emerging Creative Directors—Shruti Rohta, Naresh K Mincha, Rupesh Bhimta, Neeraj Prashar, Sanjeev Arora, and Hemant Attri—students received mentorship in performance, dramatization, stage movement, and emotional articulation.
This phase of the festival focused on dress rehearsals, allowing student performers to step onto the iconic Gothic heritage stage and experience its unique magic. Students were introduced to technical theatre elements like lighting, sound, spatial dynamics, and blocking, gaining hands-on experience that complemented their performance training.
The effort was not just about preparing for the final performance—it was about building confidence, nurturing talent, and creating a shared space of artistic exchange. These rehearsals were preceded by months of effort, where Creative Directors visited each participating school, helping teams refine their scripts and performances based on original stories by contemporary writers.
The initiative received support from key partners, including the Department of Language, Art & Culture, Himachal Pradesh, Sarv Shiksha Abhiyan, the Education Department, La Himalayas, HimachalTonite (media partner), and numerous anonymous donors. The school managements, teachers, and the wider creative community also played a vital role in empowering young performers.
Special thanks were extended to the jury members—Avtar Sahani, Suresh Sharma, and Anita Pandey—who will undertake the challenging task of judging the final performances. The presence and encouragement of guest of honour, Vineet Kumar, added to the event’s prestige.
As the final showcase approaches, this collaborative, mentor-driven journey stands as a testament to the power of art in education and community building.
Plays and Schools (in Hindi)
अनार का पेड़ — ऑकलैंड हाउस स्कूल फॉर बॉयज़, लक्कड़ बाज़ार
इम्पर्सनैटर — दिल्ली वर्ल्ड पब्लिक स्कूल, कंडाघाट
कोरा कागज़ — रूट्स कंट्री स्कूल, बागी
ज़मीर — भारती पब्लिक स्कूल, चायल
अकेला — ऑकलैंड हाउस स्कूल, लक्कड़ बाजार
दादी — मोनाल पब्लिक स्कूल, निश्प्रिया कॉटेज, संजौली
चेसिंग द व्हिस्पर ऑफ़ मैजिक — स्वर्ण पब्लिक स्कूल, टूटीकंडी
वूमन आर मेड — जी एस एस एस कदौर, शोगी
करण’स एलीफैंट राइड — लक्ष्य कॉन्वेंट स्कूल, मंज्याट
गंगा — लक्ष्य पब्लिक स्कूल, अर्की
नोबल रिवेंज — ई सी आई शैले डे स्कूल, शिमला
रक्षा बंधन — लॉरिएट पब्लिक स्कूल, भराड़ी
हवाई जहाज गिराने वाली लड़की — सरस्वती पैराडाइज़ इंटरनेशनल पब्लिक स्कूल, भट्टाकुफर
ग्रांडफादर’स कॉइन — सम्भोटा तिब्बती स्कूल, छोटा शिमला
एहसास — दुर्गा पब्लिक स्कूल, सोलन
देव: द ओमनीप्रेजेंट — जी एस एस एस सरोग, ठियोग
चमत्कारी पुड़िया — जी एस एस एस पोर्टमोर, शिमला
चित्रहार — आइवी इंटरनेशनल स्कूल, भट्टाकुफर
