Vizag Junior Theatre Fest: Unfolding the magic of children’s theatre

Vizag Junior Theatre Fest is back with its second edition and has an interesting line-up of plays by theatre groups across India

The world of theatre holds a transformative power, especially on children. From being a powerful tool of creative engagement to fostering empathy and boosting self-confidence, its impact on young minds is profound. While the roots of children’s theatre in India can be traced back to ancient folklore and classical forms of storytelling, in recent years children’s theatre has undergone significant transformation. Bringing this evolving landscape of children’s theatre to Visakhapatnam are some of the finest theatre groups from across India who will be performing in the city in November at a three-day children’s theatre festival.

After the success of the first edition of Vizag Junior Theatre Fest (VJTF), LitLantern for Culture and Literature Welfare Society is back with the second edition with an interesting line-up of participants.

Packed with plays and workshops, the fest will feature performances by Collective Madness Studio, Swatantra Theatre, Bhoomika and mime artist Kunal Motling.

“The stories this year are built around life during simpler times and on striking a balance on the use of technology. Interestingly, all stories will have sets of forests and rural life,” says Sonal Sarada of LitLantern. For the first time, this year the fest will see plays in Telugu by the Hyderabad-based Bhoomika theatre group. “We are also looking to engage closely with government schools so that the experience can reach a wider audience,” says Sonal.

According to Sonal, the festival this time has “ended up being on the theme of sustainability”. “There was no conscious effort to make it so; it is a coincidence. One of the plays is ‘Malgudi Days’ by Swatantra Theatre that just evokes the imagery of an untouched simple, lush village. The second play involves a family encountering trouble in a forest,” says Sonal, adding: “We exposed children to the urban theatre experience last year. This year, we wanted to ignite their imagination and expose them to the drama that simplicity and Nature brings.”

Founded by Abhijeet Choudhary in 2006, Swatantra Theatre is today a leading theatre group in Pune. Along with co-founder Dhanashree Heblikar and Yuwaraj Shah, they have been entertaining audiences with humour, social and contemporary plays. The group will be bringing to Vizag Junior Theatre Fest, the endearing tales of Malgudi Days. From Swamy’s attempts of avoiding going to school to the antics of his friends Rajam and Mani, this play will bring back the joys of a simple life. Written by RK Narayan, these stories are extraordinary in their depiction of the charms of rural India.