The magic of theatre

• Theatre helps in the emotional development of children.
•  It shapes their personality. 
•  It offers them a unique, trained voice. 
•  Theatre teaches them how to think.
•  It helps to improve memory. 
•  It simulates life and makes them face it.
•  It is the safest way to get trained to meet the most difficult situations in life. 
•  Theatre introduces them to the diverse nature of people. 
•  It makes them a better person. 
• Theatre improves self-expression and communication skills and promotes empathy, which adds to the self-confidence and the healthy growth of children.

The thirst of theatre

Present-day children are so busy that they hardly find the time for theatre or any art for that matter. They don't have any free time, not even to play a sport. Participating in a play demands time, which makes the endeavor especially tricky. Rarely does theatre figure as a subject of study as essential as other subjects. Theatre for children is many times neglected, and the performance of a children's play is a rare event. Only during vacations, some professional groups have occasional shows, and that too mostly happens in larger cities.  

Teacher's role

 Teachers can play a significant role here. They are the ones who spend the most time with children and can find at least four to five hours a week to practice theatre. Staging a play demands constant attention or guidance from an adult. There is a need to identify or create an appropriate script.

Need for children's theatre practitioners

In every discipline of education, proper guidance from the senior member is essential and has its unique place. Children's theatre practitioners take interest and work for the little theatre as a guide and take various responsibilities to create the best experience. They are either teachers or parents or are theatre professionals. They equip themselves with the knowledge of theatre and have a good understanding of the children's world.

The password to children's mind

A healthy dialogue with children is possible when you have the passwords to their souls. Children like one who is relaxed and is pleasant and has plenty of time to share with them. One who makes them laugh and surprises them with new ideas, and lets them express their opinions, and listens to them is welcomed with love by them. The one who plays with them and introduces new games to them is treated like a friend by them. 

Shape the future of children

When you as a children's theatre practitioners are so near and dear to children, together you sing, create new songs, play music, dance, and read, and write too. Once they develop a bond of this kind, you can discuss everything under the sun with them. You can debate, you can dream, and you can shape the future as you want. 

Theatre group

Here is the time to shape a play with them. Form a theatre group of students and other interested people. Theatre will keep you all together then.

Do theatre

I have been practicing children's theatre for the last thirty years. I have made many young friends in many schools in the district. In our village, Shirgaon, we have our theatre group. We are busy with theatre activities throughout the year. Every year we stage a new production and perform it at places nearby. 

Although we do not have well-equipped theatres, that does not stop us from doing theater. We meet at least once a week, and we read together and play theatre games. In winter months we meet consecutively every evening for about three months, at the end of which, we are ready with a new play to perform.

Theatre is energy 

Our experience and understanding of theater increase with the number of plays we stage. The confidence grows, and life seems different altogether. Students have new power from the theatrical activity they do, and it helps them in their studies too. They don't avoid their responsibilities. Their reflexes become quicker. It helps to improve the academic performances of the children.

Rabindranath and his Shanti Niketan

I often remember Rabindranath Tagore for his Shantiniketan. He created a school without walls and eased students to connect with nature. Trees, rivers, mountains, and birds had an essential place in their routine. Painting, sculpting, singing, dancing, and writing stories and poems was not considered a waste of time. Rabindranath thought Theatre and Arts as a celebration of life.

Theatre is just a medium to connect. 

The following were my words in an open letter I wrote for students to join our theatre group.

Theatre is only an occasion.

We will weave friendships

And with those friendly hands

In unison we will roam, wander

And search for the

Pathways to creativity.

We will walk far

While creating

Something meaningful

By finding a harmony

Between

Words, tunes, and images.

We will create

New worlds and views

On our way

We will

Play with the rainbows

And sing songs Of the

trees, birds, hills, and water.