The folks at Ranga Shankara have been proving time and again that there's no age barrier when it comes to enjoying theatre. And, what better way to make their point than with a theatre festival dedicated to kids! Bringing together world-class plays from across the globe along with ones produced by the city-based theatre, the AHA! International Theatre Festival for Children is back for its eighth edition. With nine days of plays {July 16 to July 24} by theatre groups from as far as Germany and Netherlands, this one's designed for kids of all ages, right from an 18-month old baby to teenagers! Apart from plays, there will also be a live puppetry performance on the opening day, a stall by Kavade with their signature traditional games and even a food stall managed by kids! To help you plan your little ones' 'play week' better, we picked out five plays to be bookmarked right away.
Oopicassoo
A colourful fantasy for kids aged 3-5, Oopicassoo {inspired by Pablo Picasso} is directed by a German theatre group and produced by Theatre for Young Audiences in Muenster {Germany}. Revolving around two actors who discover the world of colours, the play explores the art of painting with different senses and sounds. Armed with blank papers, brushes and plenty of paint, this one promises to be a riot of colours on stage.
When: Sunday, July 17, 3.30pm and 7.30pm
AAIPET
Source: YouTube
What if your smartphone ceases to be smart? Is your computer making the world smaller or bigger? These are just some of the questions that this play might bring up in your mind. Performed by the group, Theatergezelschap Bonte Hond {from Netherlands}, the show starts off with two kids' entertainers who pull out bananas from iPads as a trick. What happens when the gadget turns out to be a prankster forms the crux of the plot. Interestingly, concepts like self-sufficiency, independent thinking and the role of technology in our lives are subtly depicted.
When: Tuesday, July 19, 7.30pm
Dinner Is At 8
Produced by the city-based group, Head Start Montessori House of Children, a steel utensil takes centre stage in this performance. Using an ordinary object from daily life to portray the play of sight and sound, the narrative delves into how life is all about restoring order while adapting to chaos and rupture. And, the intended audience for this play? Children {read babies} between 18 to 36 months!
When: Thursday, July 21, 3.30pm and 7.30pm
When All Was Green
The Key Theatre group from Israel come onstage with their production, When All Was Green, based on Shel Silverstein's children's picture book, The Giving Tree. Ideal for kids above the age of six, the play uses puppetry without words to depict the bond between a boy and a tree. Mankind, nature, greed, growing up and the grace of giving are ideas dealt with in the performance. #LBBTip: Delhi's The Ishara Puppet Theatre Trust also interprets the very same story in Kalpataru {Hindi}, with shadow images, puppets and music {on Friday, July 22}.
When: Saturday, July 23, 3.30pm and 7.30pm
Buy 1 Get 1 Free
Adapted from Andher Nagri by Bhartendu and The Emperor’s New Clothes by Hans Christian Anderson, the 60-minutes play is for children above eight years. A production by RangaShankara’s AHA! and Theatre Nisha from Chennai, it takes you on a journey with two sisters, who stumble upon a kingdom where everything costs INR 1. Described as a modern day fairy tale of our economic system, the comedy is all about how the duo manages to overcome the 'market forces'.
When: Sunday, July 24, 3.30pm and 7.30pm
Where: Ranga Shankara, 36/2, 8th Cross Road, JP Nagar, 2nd Phase
Price: INR 200 upwards
Contact: 080 080 26493982
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