Empowering Children’s Voices through Theatre
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Participants of the 3rd Bell Festival in Anuradhapura
‘3rd Bell Children and Youth Theatre Festival 2024’, organised by ‘Stages Theatre Group’ which was concluded recently at the Sudharshi Institute of Sinhala Culture in Colombo. The festival was a vibrant celebration of community, creativity and conversations centred around and curated by children from around Sri Lanka.
With over two decades of experience creating socially and politically relevant original theatre in Sri Lanka, Stages Theatre Group has empowered the children with creative skills while providing them with a powerful platform to share their ideas, and dreams through the magic of theatre.
Conducted for the second time, this year’s festival took place across three locations: Bogawantalawa, Anuradhapura and Colombo, bringing together 118 children, aged 8 to 18, from 12 teams across regions like Bogawanthalawa, Anuradhapura, Jaffna, Galle, Avissawella, Kelaniya, Kahapola, and Marawila.
With guidance from dedicated community artistes, the children explored themes that interested or concerned them; a child’s right to a clean environment to study, dementia amongst grandparents, challenges of digital life on families, suicide amongst children, parental pressure, what is taught in our history books, impunity within the government health care system.
Scene from a play from the 3rd Bell Festival in Bogawanthalawa
For the whole of 2024, these young artists attended free weekly workshops conducted through STG in their own villages and schools. The weekly sessions trained them in basic yoga, movement exercises, vocal training, devising techniques, and acting skills. Through theatre games, open discussions, and creative activities, they identified key social issues within their communities that either troubled or interested them. Through the year these discussions were honed into plays which were then performed at the festival. The children actively participated in every creative aspect of the productions – writing, directing, acting, designing, and stage management.
The festival showcased how empowering children through theatre can drive meaningful change in their communities, challenging conventional learning methods and highlighting the power of arts-based education.
In addition to the performances, the children also participated in a sign language class and a mime workshop which they enjoyed thoroughly.
With support from Kindernothilfe (KNH), Stages Theatre Group has been running for last four years. It gives children the tools they need for critical thinking, creativity, and powerful expression, and teachers, parents and adult civil society, the opportunity to understand the world our children live in and how they view it.
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