The Newz Radar
Mandi: The community building at Kotli subdivision headquarters in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh remained abuzz with youthful energy for the last 20 days due to the ongoing the ‘Children’s Theatre Workshop 2024’.
Organized by the Himachal Cultural Research Institute and Rangmandal under the aegis of the Department of Language and Culture, Mandi (H.P), and supported by Community Folk Art Culture, the event saw young artistes from Kotli and surrounding areas showcase their skills.
The primary objective of this workshop was to foster the mental development of children, spark their interest in literature, raise societal awareness and provide physical training. Additionally, the workshop featured presentations based on the works of local storytellers and poets.
Forty children participated in this workshop and learnt the received intensive theatre training under the guidance of Seema Sharma, director of Himachal Cultural Research Institute and Rangmandal Satohal. The young artistes captivated the audience with their impressive acting and dance performances.
Talking to TNR, Seema shared, “Recognising the growing disconnect of children from literature due to the influence of mobile phones and social media, this workshop aimed to re-engage young minds with cultural and literary activities. Kotli was chosen as the venue because it is a village where many families cannot afford such extracurricular activities and parents often don’t send money as children work in cities.”
The event was graced by Professor Anupama Singh, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Sardar Patel University and President of Rotary Club Mandi, who served as the chief guest. Professor Singh lauded the efforts of the Himachal Cultural Research Institute and the talents of the young artistes. She expressed her best wishes for the children’s bright futures and emphasised the vast opportunities for children to establish themselves in the arts in today’s social media era. She encouraged parents to support their children in exploring artistic fields alongside their academic pursuits.
Special guest Sheila Sharma, an elderly woman from the village of Arnyana in Kotli, distributed certificates of appreciation to the young artistes. Prashant Mohan, president of the Ramleela Committee at Kotli, also attended and praised the dedication and enthusiasm of the young performers.
A highlight of the event was the staging of a play based on the story “Fegde Ka Phool” from the renowned story collection “Baanmuth” by famous Mandi writer Murari Sharma. Additionally, poems from the collection “Indradhanushi Bal Rang” by esteemed Himachali poetess Rupeshwari Sharma were performed, earning widespread acclaim. Seema Sharma expressed her gratitude to all participants and supporters of the program and announced plans to organise a children’s film festival in Kotli in the near future.
