Promoting Arts among Young Students by Building their Skills in Theatre – Upcoming Children’s Theatre Festival

Vandana Bhagra, Shimla

Children’s Theatre Festival, to be held from 27-29 September, 2024, organized by Keekli Charitable Trust, is an initiative aimed at promoting arts among young students by building their skills in theatre. Season two of the festival will see participation from 15 school teams, each eager to showcase their theatrical talents. To ensure that these teams are well-prepared, a series of skill-building workshops are being held, beginning with sessions designed specifically for the teachers.

The initial workshops were conducted by a core team of experts, including Shri Srinivas Joshi, Amala Rai and Jawahar Kaul. These sessions provided teachers with the necessary tools and insights to guide their students effectively through the theatrical process which included adaptation of the story into a script and basics of performing on stage. Following the teacher workshops, six creative directors were appointed to work directly with the school teams, helping to bring their performances to life. The team of Creative Directors working with us are Kedar Thakur, Naresh K Mincha, Neeraj Parashar, Sohan Kapoor, Sanjeev Arora and Rupesh Bhimta. The selected stories have been written by writers from Himachal Pradesh, thus also, trying to bridge the gap between the generations and connecting them on one platform.

The rehearsal sessions led by these directors focus on several key aspects of theatre. First, they explore the concept of acting itself, delving into what it means to perform and the relationship between the actor and the character they portray. The workshops emphasize the importance of understanding the ‘Given Circumstances’, a term referring to the context and conditions in which a character exists, which in turn affects how they behave and interact with others on stage. The directors also introduced the ‘Status Game’ a technique used to explore the power dynamics between characters, and the significance of building relationships between characters to create a more authentic performance.

Another critical focus was on ‘Building a Character’ and ‘Making a Role’, where students learned how to develop a character from scratch, considering the character’s background, motivations and evolution throughout the story. The directors further emphasized that theatre is a collective art form, requiring collaboration and teamwork, with each actor’s performance contributing to the overall success of the play.

These workshops have also covered the concepts of ‘Adaptation & Logical Justification’, where students learned how to adapt their performances to different scenarios while maintaining the logical consistency of their character’s actions and decisions. This aspect is crucial for making performances believable and engaging for the audience.

Finally, the directors encouraged the students to use their imagination in acting, highlighting the importance of creativity in bringing a character to life. Imagination allows actors to explore new dimensions of their roles, making their performances more dynamic and compelling.

Through these workshops, Keekli Charitable Trust with the support of its sponsors and partners, is playing a pivotal role in nurturing young talent and fostering a deeper appreciation for theatre among students. The Children’s Theatre Festival not only provides a platform for students to showcase their skills but also equips them with the knowledge and techniques needed to excel in the art of theatre. By focusing on the fundamentals of acting and character development, the festival helps young actors understand and appreciate the complexities of performance, paving the way for future success in the arts.

Participating Teams along with Writer Name & Story Title

For details follow the link: https://keekli.in/childrens-theatre-festival-in-shimla-enchanting-theatre-festival-season-two/