JOIN USChildhood is the time when one starts learning and what would be a better way to do that than through stagecraft. ‘Knowledge is accumulation of the past and learning is always in the present’, with this thought, Atelier theatre group is organising second edition of ‘Bachpan- Atelier’s Children Theatre Festival’.
An extension of the Kidz Programme started by Atelier Theatre in 2005, Bachpan has worked with more than 1200 schools across India to devise Creative Educational programmes and socially relevant plays for more than 50 schools. After designing and devising workshops on creative teaching and learning by incorporating the technique of drama and theatre-in-education, the gala festival took shape for the first time last year.
In this second episode, 82 entries from students of 900 schools in Delhi and NCR participated in the ‘line reading’ sessions that began from April 23. In these sessions, students present the design and direction of the play alongwith the presentation of the lines. The 16 teams thus selected become a part of the zonal round that began yesterday and will continue till April 27. The jury will select six finalists who will perform at LTG Auditorium on April 29.
Yesterday the zonals for East were held at Nehru World School, Ghaziabad, yesterday where the audience witnessed interesting performances of classic plays such as Tagore’s Daak Ghar by Amity International School, Noida and The Land of Cards by Nehru World School, Ghaziabad. For today, a number of self-scripted plays will be presented by students at St. Marks School, Meera Bagh where the west zonals will take place. The zonals for central Delhi will be at National Bal Bhawan on April 27.
Brought together on one stage, students are instilled with a sense of performance, camaraderie and sensitivity towards their surroundings through theatre. Integrating education and theatre, Bachpan 2012 intends to channelise the energies of youth in schools towards a creative expression. The theatre festival showcases and encourages good theatre of all forms without any bias for language and content. Curated by Kuljeet Singh, the festival aims to take a leap to other cities and become pan-India by 2013.