Catch them young, the saying goes and not for nothing. Giving a platform to young theatre artists from the Capital, to showcase their stage talents, is what this event hosted by Atelier theatre group is all about. Called Bachpan, the festival started in the first week of May and after six zonal rounds, the judges managed to select five teams which will be performing their plays at the grand finale on May 20.
“This is the third time we are hosting Bachpan. It is a culmination of my decade long theatre based work with different schools in Delhi and the NCR. Children have some wonderful ideas and come up with brilliant plays, but they never reach the audience at large. So we decided to give them a platform to showcase their talent,” says Kujleet Singh, Atelier’s creative director.
Apart from mainstream theatre and socially relevant plays, Kuljeet’s team at Atelier is involved in devising workshops on creative teaching and learning, incorporating drama. “The selection of the plays for the final was purely on the basis of merit of the productions, with regard to script, execution, coherence of narrative and dramatic value. Most of the work, including costumes, music and in some cases even the script, has been devised by the students and their teachers. My favourite is the play written by Safdar Hashmi, called Gopi Gavayya Bagha Bajayya, which is also opening the show,” Kuljeet adds.
Ask what is in it for him, and Kuljeet says, rather emphatically, “Only gratification. It is my responsibility to give back what I have taken from the world of theatre.”
{{/usCountry}}Ask what is in it for him, and Kuljeet says, rather emphatically, “Only gratification. It is my responsibility to give back what I have taken from the world of theatre.”
{{/usCountry}}Catch them hereWhat: Bachpan-Atelier’s Children Theatre Festival 2013When: May 20Timing: 5pm onwardsWhere: Kamani Auditorium, 1, Copernicus Marg, New DelhiNEAREST METRO STATION: Mandi House on the Blue Line