To help children express themselves is something that fascinates him. For Gursharan Singh, eminent music and theatre personality, it is a ‘great privilege’ to work with children and bring their real talent out.
The Delhi-based sitar exponent, who has worked with children for more than three decades, is in city these days to prepare the students of Dikshant International School, Zirakpur, for a musical adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s Kim.
“Kim will be staged by almost 500 students. I am focussing a lot on using music to create interest in the play. Live music will be an integral part of it. There will be a song-and-dance sequence too that will add to the dramatic action,” says Singh, former head of the department of theatre and music at The Doon School, Dehradun.
“I am a student of Doon School and started my teaching career there. I taught at Doon from 1990 to 2009. Besides that I have performed not only in India but also in Europe, Australia, Middle East etc,” says Singh who has also taught at Mayo College for Girls, Ajmer and Genesis Global School, Noida among other schools.
About his experience of working with children and what keeps him going, he says, “I don’t find it difficult to work with them. Children respond to me. I make sure I have new ways of engaging them. Moreover, children respond positively to an uncomplicated approach and I am a straightforward person. Working with young theatre artists is an enriching experience. One gets to learn a lot from them.”
{{/usCountry}}About his experience of working with children and what keeps him going, he says, “I don’t find it difficult to work with them. Children respond to me. I make sure I have new ways of engaging them. Moreover, children respond positively to an uncomplicated approach and I am a straightforward person. Working with young theatre artists is an enriching experience. One gets to learn a lot from them.”
{{/usCountry}}Since he has worked so closely with children, we ask his take on reality shows which involve children’s participation. “I do not think many children benefit from these shows apart from a few who win the show. Though these shows are entertaining and enjoyable, they end up using children. These shows take in children at a young age and just focus on the commercial part of it.”
The musical adaptation of Kim will be staged at Indradhanush auditorium, Panchkula on December 8