Six plays to be staged in children theatre fest
For its forthcoming National Children Theatre Festival, the Guwahati Sishu Natya Vidyalaya has decided to select six plays from across the country that will not only provide entertainment to the childrenbut will also educate and spread the relevant message.
This festival to be held here at Rabindra Bhawan for the second consecutive year will present a participatory play by BK Sharma that has completed more than 300 shows throughout the length and breadth of the country.
It needs to be mentioned here that the concept of participatory play is still at a nascent stage in the State. The success of the technique and the director relies on the response of the audience watching the play and on the spontaneity of the flow of opinion from the audience.
Recently the Guwahati Sishu Natya Vidyalaya had staged a participatory play in the capital city Sukula Ghora and it had evoked keen enthusiasm of the theatre lovers. The play had highlighted issues related to the adolescent world.
Director of the Guwahati Sishu Natya Vidyalaya Manik Roy informed that the national children theatre festival will present plays where children are the actors as well as dramas where adults have acted to entertain children.
“The first edition of the national children theatre festival could attract theatre lovers of all age groups. So we are confident that we can maintain the continuity in the coming years,” said Roy.
The coming national children theatre festival will be held from January 3 next year. The five-day festival according to Roy is going to provide a platform to the directors and actors to exchange their views and expertise on children theatre.
“In some States, the children theatre movement has gained momentum while in some States it has just started. The festival will focus on the development of children theatre and its role in the education of children,” said Roy adding that success of a children play depends on its acceptance by children.
Roy pointed out that though children theatre is being considered seriously in Assam now, there is still a long way to go because directors have been unable to select the proper subject for children theatre.
“Children love entertainment and fun and a beautiful message can be given if the directors keep in mind the psychology of the children,” said Roy.