CHENNAI: Theatre and drama have always been forms of empowering self-expression. However, theatre for children was relegated to being merely a juvenile off-shoot. Since the past decade, a new form of ‘development theatre’ has been taking root, with its’ benefits being most evident when taught to children. City Express explores the avenues of developmental theatre in Chennai through a few academies and clubs, to see what’s in store on stage.
Alchemy Kids
“People assume that drama on stage is artificial and merely a performance. But drama is in our daily life, our body language and in our real life emotions,” says Vijay Viswanathan, director of Alchemy Kids, a developmental theatre centre in the city. “Between the 1990s and 2008, drama was not a very ‘happening’ thing. The lack of body language, planning and communication was evident in people graduating during these years, which necessitated soft skills training.”
The older generation didn’t need it, as they gave more importance to music and dance during their school days. “Theatre improves and hones your skills—verbal, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal skills, intra-personal skills, mathematical etc,” adds Vijay. “Children studying theatre become very empathetic as they grow because they understand people from their point of view.”
Big Hero 6
Evam Entertainment’s programme for kids applies to toddlers and teenagers. It promises to keep your kids occupied while also teaching them valuable skills in leadership. “Kids, especially toddlers up to three years, are stubborn, to say the least. You cannot teach them anything by telling them to do something,” says John Pradeep, an avid theatre practitioner and the dean of the programme. “So by exposing them to a proper environment, we can teach them subtle skills
via theatre.”
The Big Hero 6, part of their Happy Cow programme, uses six different art forms —theatre, puppetry, shadow theatre, mime, street play and story creation in a carefully structured manner. “The point is to use theatre as a medium to teach kids about socio-emotional skills, improve hand-eye coordination and vocabulary through speech and drama,” adds John. That’s why the programme identifies eight leadership traits during programme.
They are also shown perspectives when exposed to shadow theatre, John adds. “If I wanted to express happiness in a shadow, I need to do it in profile. Also, I may have to jump up and down to show the character as happy. All this leads to children thinking from the
audience’s perspectives.”
Chennai Juggling Club
This club also aspires to help children improve memory and focus. “People used to look down on juggling, clowning and circus performers,” says Rajan. “But actually it is also a part of fine arts! Now, across the world, there are specialised courses dedicated to education in clowning. Juggling actually increases grey matter growth in the brain during the learning process, which creates increased mind-body awareness and harmony. Besides, it engages both the left brain (responsible for logical/analytical thinking) and the right brain (responsible for creativity), which means you are simultaneously engaging both the magician and the poet in you!” avers Rajan, who also teaches basic juggling to children at a Montessori school
in the city.
RASA…for special needs
Theatre can also be used to help children with special needs. Ambika Kameshwar, director of RASA Centre for Theatre Arts and Special Needs, describes how she adapted her Theatre for Holistic Development doctrine, which uses music, dance, theatre and storytelling as tools of learning for visually-challenged children first, and later used it to help children with neurological disorders. “For visually challenged children, they would start with mudras and the stance to get body awareness and would imitate in a manner that was amazing!” she avers. “For neurologically challenged children, they do not even realise they are also exercising when they practice Natya.” This helps to focus the energy of the child as well and create a safe space for them to learn, she says.
Theatre for empowerment
Theatre for Development (TfD) is a concept that has been gaining traction on a global scale as a form of interactive and engaging theatre. The concept aims to awaken and empower communities as a whole, hence encouraging them to voice and solve their own problems through the medium of theatre.