This story is from December 7, 2017

International theatre festival warms hearts, numbers cold

International theatre festival for children warms hearts
Theatre groups like Sleeping Beauty, an Indo-French collaboration; Chutti from Delhi; Grandfather Mangtae Comes from South Korea; Wolf Child from University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA; and others are taking part in the festival that ends on Saturday.
NEW DELHI: The capital has been playing host to an international theatre festival for children since December 3. But there isn’t just enough audience even though it’s happening at Bal Bhavan, right in the heart of the capital.
Called Tifli, this festival is for children and the young. Artistes from South Korea, Argentina, France and USA are taking part in various events from morning till evening. While morning events are very well attended, organisers say evening ones have barely any audience.
“Parents are not taking theatre seriously,” said Imran Khan, festival director and president of ASSITEJ India. “The shows in the morning are full house, but the evening ones are just 10% filled,” Khan said.
Utkarsh Chauhan (13), a student of Springdales School, Pusa Road, and a drama commentator at the festival, said, “I find drama interesting. It keeps us children away from technology . It’s good exposure for us.”
Anushka Jain (11), a student of Heritage School, Gurgaon, also a drama commentator, echoed Chauhan’s views. She said the unpredictability of drama keeps her engaged.
Khan lamented the fact that many parents take their children out for movies but not for theatre where tickets are cheaper. Vivek Kalra, a parent at the festival, agreed with Khan. “Drama is that platform that allows you to be who you are not and adds something to your personality,” he said.
Tripti Bassi, assistant professor at LSR College and a mother of a six-year-old, said, “Drama should be an integral part of a child’s life. It gives an outlet to what you basically are and lets you express yourself. It also gives you a space to vent out your feelings. I believe that theatre is good when it is shared with less morals. Parents must pull their children to theatres rather than taking them to malls or cinema halls that are irrelevant.”

Francois Fogel, vice president of ASSITEJ Global, said from France, “Theatre is a small world with not much money and means. It’s very important that some people endorse the responsibility of organising these festivals.”
Khan said international cultural centres have been very helpful as compared to the Indian government.
Theatre groups like Sleeping Beauty, an Indo-French collaboration; Chutti from Delhi; Grandfather Mangtae Comes from South Korea; Wolf Child from University of North Carolina Greensboro, USA; and others are taking part in the festival that ends on December 9.
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