SHILLONG: National Theatre Festival 2015 for children began on Sunday at Tura organized by National School of Drama, New Delhi.
Planned under the NSD’s wing Theatre In Education (TIE), the festival was inaugurated by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi at the District Auditorium, Tura.
The festival titled ‘Jashne Bachpan’ celebrating its 25th year, will conclude on March 2.
The Deputy Commissioner in his inaugural address said that the title ‘Jashne Bachpan’ for the children festival is perfectly matched. The meaning of ‘Jashne Bachpan’ is celebration of childhood – as childhood is the period of innocence, it is therefore celebration of innocence. All the children should get a chance and should be given an opportunity to develop their minds in proper track to become a perfect citizen, he said.
He was also happy at the endeavour of the NSD for selecting Tura to organise the North East Theatre Festival during December 2014 and now the National Theatre Festival for children despite lack of proper resources available.
According to Bakshi, theatre is the most effective media of communication as it involves direct connection between the performer and the audience.
On Sunday, a cross section of the people of Tura including the young and old enjoyed an impressive puppet show titled ‘Swami Vivekananda’ presented by Bharatiya Lok Kala Mandal from Udaipur under the direction of Dr. Laique Hussain.
Richard M. Marak, general secretary of A’chik Theatre said that during the festival, children’s drama will be presented every evening at 6 pm at the District Auditorium.
The drama troupes were selected from among the best in the country, especially from Mumbai, Karnataka, New Delhi, Kolkata, Manipur, Assam in addition to A’chik Theatre, Tura.
A children’s workshop is being conducted by the NSD in collaboration with A’chik Theatre which will produce a drama which will be staged on March 1.
Marak said that A’chik Theatre is happy at the amazing response of the people of Tura on the first day of the festival and hoped that the festival will help to boost the theatre movement in Garo Hills.
