The Hindu : New Delhi News : Kids' bonanza at Kamani

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 23, 2005

New Delhi

New Delhi

Kids' bonanza at Kamani

It will be Children's Day in Delhi all this week from Wednesday. Staging a comeback in more ways than one, Kidsworld -- a theatre group that had fallen off the play circuit in the Capital for a while -- has decided to return home with a bang.

Bringing to stage again at Kamani Auditorium the whacky world of witches and cauldrons in "Wizwits", Roald Dahl's classic "Matilda" and a Hinglish version of "Jungle Book Se Aage", the story of Mowgli in Delhi, Kidsworld is all ready to recreate its magic.

"This is the first time in India really that such a festival is being organised and plays are being staged back to back without a break with the same set of children. We have tried to showcase young amateur talent and only 5 per cent of our cast is from our old actors," says director Bubbles Sabharwal.

Tiny eight-year-old Nikhil and strapping Mohit who is 20 years old might have found it difficult to "bond" otherwise, but for once have found that they speak the same language: theatre.

"It is wonderful working with the young children on these plays. They are sometimes difficult to control and even try and direct the play sometime, but they are very highly talented," says Mohit, a final year student from Bhagat Singh College. With 60 young actors ranging from 5 to 26 years in age, the plays have much more than just good music -- tons of energy and even more enthusiasm.

"Children are the most honest performers. Kidsworld had been silent for far too long because I was involved with my own work. People told me that I should move on, but I love working with children and till my spine holds together and I have trot in my feet I will continue working with them," says director Lushin Dubey. The plays are being staged at Kamani Auditorium at 10 a.m. from Wednesday. Wizwits" will be staged from November 23 to 25, "Matilda" from November 27 to 28 and "Jungle Book Se Aage" from November 29 to 30. -- Mandira Nayar.

-- Mandira Nayar.

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