Theatre Festival for Toddlers Aged 1 to 5 Is Coming to Ahmedabad in August

Starting on 8th August, the five-day festival for kids will also have a workshop and panel discussion for parents and teachers that will host the likes of psychiatrist Dr Shekhar Seshadri and actress Arundhati Nag.

The mind of a child is like a sponge. Exposing it to the art of theatre and storytelling at a tender age can be a tremendous multi-sensory experience for it. The second edition of Theatre Festival for Toddlers ’18, organised from August 8 to August 12 at Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad, is aimed specifically at this. This year’s festival is for children aged between 1 to 5 years. This is a departure from last year’s programme, which was meant for children aged between 5 to 8 years.

The celebration is the result of a collaborative effort between Bangalore’s Ranga Shankara theatre facility, and Ahmedabad’s Neekoee Foundation. The performers of the show will be coming from Mumbai and Delhi and are experts in the art of performing for toddlers.

According to the Director of Neekoee Foundation, Neena Naishadh, “There are very few works produced for children these days in theatre. Through this festival, we wish to change this scenario. We want to touch the lives of maximum children through this festival and, thus, everyday we will organise two shows in the morning – one for underprivileged children and the second for school-going kids.”

Besides focusing on children’s content, the festival will also be hosting a panel discussion for parents and teachers on August 11. This will see a conversation between renowned psychiatrist and NIMHANS Professor Dr Shekhar Seshadri, veteran film and theatre actress Arundhati Nag, and Dr Manjula Pooja Shroff, the CEO of Kalorex Group. The topic of the panel discussion is The Sensory World of Children. On August 12, Dr Seshadri will also conduct a workshop for teachers and drama practitioners who work with children having developmental problems.

All the events in the festival, spread across five days, have limited seats. So grab tickets for you and your children early!

Here’s a list of all the theatrical acts that are planned for the festival:

8th August – OOOL – Tram Arts Trust, Mumbai

Age: 3 – 5 years

By: Sananda Mukhopadhyaya

Duration: 35 minutes / Non-verbal

60 people will be allowed per show, including parents accompanying their children.

9th August – PLASTICITY – The Tadpole Repertory, New Delhi

Age:  2 – 5 years

By: Bikram Ghosh, Kriti Pant

Duration: 30 minutes / Non-verbal

40 children can accompany with a parent.

10th August – PAPER FANTASY – One Plus Educational and Cultural Trust, Delhi

Age: 3 – 5 years

By: Bharti

30 minutes / Nominal use of Hindi and English

60 people will be allowed per show, including parents accompanying their children.

11th August – WOOL SYMPHONY –  Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust, New Delhi

Age: 4 – 5 years

By: Asha, Nitu and Maneesh

Duration: 30 minutes / Non-verbal

11th August -The Sensory World of Children

Panel Discussion for Parents and Teachers

By: Arundhati Nag, Dr Manjula Pooja Shroff, Dr Shekhar Seshadri

Vanue: CII House, Gulbai Tekra. 5pm

Registration in first come first basis: neenaishadh@gmail.com

12th August – CHIDIYA, UDD! – Gillo Repertory Theatre, Mumbai

Age: 1 – 3 years

By: Shaili Sathyu

Duration: 45 minutes / Non-verbal

12th August – Workshop With Dr. Shekhar Seshadri

Workshop for Teachers and Theatre Practitioners

Registration in first come first basis: neenaishadh@gmail.com

Limited seats. Call for booking +919825066880

Photographs by: Organisers