“Everything in life is a performance, right?” laughs Arundhati Nag, founder of Ranga Shankara, who believes that children absorb everything they come across from childhood. “You’re really setting the tone; it’s a huge burden of responsibility that parents have to wake up to and be aware of,” she says.

It’s like Ranga Shankara’s Aha! The International Theater Festival for Children, now in its 16th edition, is trying to get involved with the hope that by introducing a child to theater early on, “we are contributing to raising a generation of children who are sensitive, caring and empathetic.” .

In Arundhati’s view, theater is the best vehicle for this, “because it inspires the imagination of a child who sees a real human being doing a play. It’s not on a phone, tablet or television, but real blood, sweat and tears talking to you,” she says, comparing the effect of theater to a mother telling a story to a child. “That’s why we keep trying, even though it’s not easy.”

This year’s lineup, as always, includes theater groups from around the world, with eight plays to be performed from July 18 to 25. These include giant table from south korea, chifumI am from Switzerland, Sortilegio (alchemist) from Argentina, jonathan and the blue table from france and Moon magic and plant from India.

from still jonathan and the blue table
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

In addition to the plays, the festival will include three intensive workshops led by global and national masters, including an intensive five-day laboratory by Omayra Martínez Garzón, puppet designer introducing practitioners to the Lambaye Lambay Theatre, Mohammed Shameem’s collaborative workshop for adults on giant animal puppet making, and an invitation-only symposium for teachers, practitioners and social workers moderated by German director and playwright Andrea Grönmeyer. Ranga Shankara’s lobby and outdoor space will be completely transformed into an interactive playground dedicated to children, designed to spark their curiosity and let them get their hands dirty.

“One can do five plays simultaneously. But the crux of the matter is always about making the place come alive so that any child who comes to Ranga Shankara can remember the experience,” says Arundhati, whose biggest hope from the festival is simple: “That the children will go back enriched.”

The 16th edition of Aha! The International Theater Festival for Children will be held from July 18 to 25. Tickets starting at ₹500 are available on www.bookmyshow.com and Ranga Shankara box office. To know more, log on to raghankar.org