The Little Theater has established two years of pent-up creativity in its returning edition of The Little Festival, with workshops, South Korean theatre, local favorites and more.
The Little Theater has established two years of pent-up creativity in its returning edition of The Little Festival, with workshops, South Korean theatre, local favorites and more.
What characterizes Cheriana, The Little Theater’s studio space today, is the rhythm. After a few years of quiet, back rolls, cartwheels and foot-tapping beats made from loose tires and metal tools fill the space as the cast and crew inch toward show day. While Thatha and her companions were trying to revive little Gingo’s imagination behind the curtain walls, garage gang Once again comes alive.
The play, which relies heavily on slapstick and physical comedy, will kick off the 11th edition of The Little Theatre’s The Little Festival, an international theater festival for younger audiences that is going through a two-year pandemic-led hiatus. returns later. There will be a dance-theatre showcase with home production Hansel and Gretel in Takadini, the story of the lake: A shadow puppet presentation from South Korea, workshops, and a panel discussion spanning July 1 to 8.
The story follows a little girl named Jingo and her tireless effort to find her ‘imagination’ with the help of her grandfather and his trusted yet quirky allies. It explores a child’s capacity for human interactions and imagination. Though the city is familiar with the drama, the narrative has taken on a whole new meaning after the pandemic. Its impact on children has led the play to retrain its lens on the importance of support systems, whether at school or in the family.
The Little Festival is from July 1 to July 8. photo credit: special arrangement
Krishnakumar Balasubramaniam (KK), actor and artistic director of The Little Theatre, says, “We are looking forward to being back on stage. “During the pandemic, as a group, we have always got our creative juices flowing. This control of creative energy is about to explode on the stage. This creative void, as KK says, also shows how the team has crafted the story. garage gang this year. The cast includes KK as Thatha and Ananya Ramprasad as Gingo, Shabir Kallarakkal, Vikas Rao (also choreographer), Praveen Gunasekaran, Ashwin Ram and Aravindan R. “We have made sure that we bring the best of slapstick and physical comedy to the stage. , And many times people take slapstick as something that kids love, but as adults we enjoy slapstick in everyday life, perhaps in a more subtle way,” says Keck.
it’s story time
How does a classical Indian art form like Bharatanatyam come into play in Grimes’ story? Performing artists Anu Bhaskararaman and Lakshmi Ramakrishnan try to answer Hansel and Gretel in Takadini, It all started a year and a half ago when Anu and Lakshmi collaborated on a series called Dancing Through Stories, which focused on bringing classical dance to children through stories they can relate to.
“The idea was to explore the dance form in a way that you don’t do in a traditional classroom. To see a different side of it,” says Chennai-based Anu. Hansal and Gretel decided to use the interpretation. With the help of contemporary music composed by Chennai-based composer Jerry Sylvester Vincent, the play draws heavily on Bharatanatyam, but has elements of contemporary dance forms. Anu says, “We felt That if the form is to be new then the story has to be familiar and that’s why we wanted to bring a story that is easy to understand. is told from.
Anu and Laxmi between rehearsals. photo credit: special arrangement
Oh so far
Speaking of folktales and tales, comes from South Korea the story of the lake Company by Young. Using shadow puppetry, the play tells the story of a lake that was the only source of sustenance for the community on its shores, yet caused great concern.
“It is a folktale that has been rediscovered for modern audiences. It continues to use shadow puppetry and traditional theater forms in a way that audiences around the world can relate to,” says Inco Center director Rathi Jaffer Rathi says the play has the importance of conviction, faith and community, which makes it a perfect story to begin with “on a note of hope and resurgence after two years of gloom”.
The festival will also see storytelling through dance, physical acting and workshops on Korean shadow puppetry and traditional sounds and rhythms. A panel discussion with industry experts on July 5 will discuss the importance of art after the pandemic.
The Little Festival is from July 1 to 8 at the Bharat Kalakshetra Auditorium, Thiruvanmiyur. Garage Gang will be staged on July 1 at 11 am and 7 pm and on July 2 at 11 am and 6 pm. Hansel and Gretel will be staged at Takadin on July 4th and 5th at 11am. Lake’s Story will be staged on July 7 and 8 at 11 am. For more information visit @thelittletheatrechennai on Instagram.