Thirty students from families of economically weaker sections (EWS) and rural areas have been selected for a 10-day children’s theatre workshop kicked off at Khalsa College Senior Secondary School here on Wednesday.
At the workshop, inaugurated by renowned theatre personality Kewal Dhaliwal, the children would get education in theatre, where they would be engaged in various theatre activities and exercises that would boost their confidence.
The workshop is being organised by ‘Dastak’, Amritsar, in collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, with an aim to acquaint the students (boys of 8-14 years) with the functioning of theatre and help them become confident.
Dastak has organised over 40 children’s theatre workshops in the past 18 years with an aim to reach out to the children living in remote areas of Punjab and unaware of the growing world.
Talking to Hindustan Times, Rajinder Singh, president of Dastak group said, “I believe theatre can help children gain knowledge and self-confidence. The children need to be made aware of many things such as children theatre, children literature, technological advancements, current scientific innovations, training institutions of their respective interests. “Moreover, they need to be well aware of their interests, hobbies and likes and dislikes. Theatre can provide them a comfortable atmosphere, where they can express themselves freely and be able to speak of their minds and give a flight to their imagination.”
Talking about theatre education, he said: “There are many schools in the city, where children belonging to families living below poverty line study. I strongly feel that through children’s stories, plays and games, we would be able to encourage them imagine freely and think out of the box. We want them to know their interests and follow them by educating themselves to reach their goals.”
{{/usCountry}}Talking about theatre education, he said: “There are many schools in the city, where children belonging to families living below poverty line study. I strongly feel that through children’s stories, plays and games, we would be able to encourage them imagine freely and think out of the box. We want them to know their interests and follow them by educating themselves to reach their goals.”
{{/usCountry}}“The course includes various children’s theatre games and exercises, which will teach them imagine freely and express themselves unreservedly, how to work as a team by understanding the responsibility of individual’s contribution to the group,” said the NSD graduate Rajinder Singh, adding, they are planning another children’s theatre workshop at the central Khalsa Orphanage here, and then in Ludhiana.