Latest news with #MerakiPerformingArtsOrganisation
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
When children from slums took stage & captivated audience
Nagpur: "Theatre allows us to express the unseen energies of the human mind while we enjoy the performance," said former divisional commissioner Anup Kumar, addressing a gathering that witnessed something extraordinary: A group of children from Nagpur's slums transforming streets into stages and spectators into believers. The Akkad Bakkad Slum Children's Theatre Festival , organised by Meraki Performing Arts Organisation , concluded this week with unforgettable performances by children from 'bastis' like Danteshwari and Pandharabodi. This unique event proved that creativity needs no polished floor or velvet curtain — just a voice, a story, and an audience willing to listen. Renowned literary figure Gyanranjan, editor of Pahal magazine, inaugurated the festival and reminded everyone, "Introducing theatre to children in their early years is a powerful step. Theatre is not just an art form, it is the art of living." Two hard-hitting street plays took centre stage — 'Arre Bap Re' and 'Kitaabon Se Dosti' — performed by children from Danteshwari and Pandharabodi slums. In their own dialect, with minimal props but maximum heart, the children highlighted environmental concerns and the transformative power of friendship with books. They urged their communities to befriend books, and dream despite the hardship. "These kids became storytellers of their own lives, they were not acting, they were inspiring," said Rupesh Pawar, director of the Meraki group. Organisers announced their intent to take this format to rural parts of Maharashtra, bringing child-centric theatre to more underprivileged communities. The event was made possible with support from Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Ajeet Gampawar, Suraj Parmar, Kamayani Mishra, Prashant Tambe, Sanjay Kumar, and Vikas Dubeywar. The Meraki team — Pushpak Bhat, Nikita Dhakulkar, Akshay Khobragade, Krishna Latta, Mayur Mankar, Swanand Kottewar, Shubham Shukla, Rajesh Bishnoi, and Sharan Pandey — worked tirelessly to shape the dreams of these young performers.
Time of India
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Akkad Bakkad: India's first slum children theatre fest in city
1 2 3 4 5 6 Nagpur: "I never thought my daughter would act like this, standing so confidently in front of everyone," said a tearful mother, Sarika Bhagat, from Sanjay Nagar in Pandharabodi Basti, her voice choked with pride. Around her, neighbours clapped and cheered as slum children performed a street play, turning the dusty lanes into a stage and lighting up hearts hardened by years of struggle. Across Nagpur's slum pockets, scenes like this have been unfolding since April 27 as over 200 children, trained through Meraki Performing Arts Organisation , began staging their own street plays in their communities. It is a moment of rare celebration for bastis where daily life is often a battle against poverty, crime, and scarcity. All this is building up to ' Akkad Bakkad ', the country's arguably first-ever Slum Children's Theatre Festival , to be held on May 1 at the NMC English School in Ram Nagar. The rehearsals leading up to this festival have turned forgotten spaces into hubs of creativity — the IT Park's basement, the Pandharabodi Basti Garden provided by Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), and an open ground near Danteshwari Basti have all been buzzing with life and laughter. Here, children have set aside their hardships and immersed themselves in theatre, storytelling, puppetry, and short films. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2025 Top Trending local enterprise accounting software [Click Here] Esseps Learn More Undo "These children are incredibly talented," said Rupesh Pawar of Meraki Theatre. "Their grasping power is amazing. Through theatre, we aim to instil life values, creativity, and confidence — keeping them away from crime and helping them dream bigger." Pawar urged, "We invite all of Nagpur to witness this historic moment. It's the first time something like this is happening, not just in the city, but arguably anywhere in the country." The festival is an extraordinary collective effort supported by NMC, Community for Liberal Arts and Performances (CLAP), Underprivileged's Advancement by Youth (UPAY), NWCYD, Vidarbha Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti, and residents themselves. Akkad Bakkad On May 1 Venue: NMC English Medium School, Ram Nagar Time: 5.30pm onwards; Entry: Free for all Events: 'Bap Re Bap' by Danteshwari Basti children, 'Kitabon Se Dosti' by Pandharabodi and Bajiprabhu Nagar kids, a delightful puppet show 'Buddhiman Memna', storytelling sessions like 'Mai To Billi Hun', screenings of short films 'Hum Chitra Banate Hain' and 'The Girl in the Pink Frock', culminating in a powerful 20-minute play, 'Hamari Jagah'
