That AHA moment! theatre fest for kids

In a scenario where children’s plays, books and fables are replete with the underpinnings of the same old moralistic undertones, the eighth edition of AHA! International Theatre Festival blows in like a breath of fresh air. “The whole point is to talk to children and not to moralize to them or to preach. We wanted to make something that they could relate to. If they see something on stage, they should be able to identify themselves with it or their loved ones,” says Surendranath, artistic director of Ranga Shankara, which is organizing the festival as well as hosting it.

With performances by theatre group Gruene Sosse from Germany, Brush Theatre from South Korea and a hand shadow puppet show by popular puppeteer Drew Colby from UK

 AHA!, the name itself is an expression of wonder and excitement without any language barriers. The festival has held true to its name, with performances from Australia, Germany, Switzerland, Poland, South Korea, Portugal, Israel, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy in its past editions. This year is no different. With performances by theatre group Gruene Sosse from Germany, Brush Theatre from South Korea and a hand shadow puppet show by popular puppeteer Drew Colby from UK, they plan to make this weekend quite an experience for both kids and their accompanying adults. “Our audience is children, so this is all about their angst, their aspirations and their emotions. Adults will be able to see the world through their eyes and that is definitely a big takeaway,” he says.

It starts off with five puppets on stage, each representing one stage in a person’s life.

The first day starts off with an AHA! original production called Circle of Life. A puppet show, it revolves around the stages of life. “If you come looking for a story, there is none…just the journey of a child growing into an old man and thus, into a child again,” said Surendranath, who is also part of the production. It starts off with five puppets on stage, each representing one stage in a person’s life. As the 45 minute performance unfolds, the story changes from rainbows and butterflies to toothless days, quite literally, he says. “These plays are fantasies rooted in reality. Circle of Life talks about how everything around the man changes yet there are constants. It has a butterfly circling the man, signifying his relationship with nature as well.” This play is for children above 5 years of age and debuts on Saturday at 5:30pm and 7:30pm at Ranga Shankara Auditorium.

Schedule:
The festival starts on Saturday 8 July and goes on till 14 July.

•  July 9, Sunday at 3.30 pm and 7.30 pm - Three Times King by Gruene Sosse Theatre, Germany
•  July 10, Monday at 7.30 pm – Yao Yao by Brush Theatre, South Korea
•  July 11, Tuesday at 7.30 pm and 8.45 pm - Small Fables, a hand shadow puppet show by Finger and Thumb, UK
•  July 12, Wednesday at 7.30 pm - Tilchattey ki Diary by Yellowcat Theatre, New Delhi.
•  July 13, Thursday at 7.30 pm – Hans in Luck by Parwana Theater and Puppet Theatre Group, Afghanistan.
•  July 14, Friday at 7.30 pm and 8.30 pm – The Little Hunchback by Figurentheater, Switzerland