Children’s Theatre Festival

About this place

The National Children's Theatre Festival is a prominent annual theatre festival in the Thiruvananthapuram region dedicated to nurturing creativity, imagination, and artistic expression among children through the performing arts. Organized by Rangaprabhath Children's Theatre, a pioneering institution in children's theatre and arts education, the festival has become one of Kerala's notable platforms for introducing young audiences to the richness of theatrical performance while encouraging participation in drama, storytelling, music, movement, and creative learning. Held at Rangaprabhath Natakagramam in Alumthara, Venjaramoodu, approximately 25 kilometres from Thiruvananthapuram city, the festival brings together children, theatre practitioners, educators, parents, and cultural enthusiasts for a vibrant celebration of children's theatre that promotes artistic excellence alongside holistic development. Established on the vision of eminent theatre personalities Prof. G. Sankara Pillai and Guru Kochunarayana Pillai, Rangaprabhath has played a pioneering role in developing children's theatre in Kerala since 1970 by using drama as an educational and creative tool that encourages confidence, communication, teamwork, and critical thinking. The National Children's Theatre Festival reflects this philosophy by presenting a carefully curated programme of theatrical performances created specifically for young audiences while providing opportunities for children to engage directly with the performing arts. Every edition typically features a diverse selection of plays performed by theatre groups from different parts of India, representing multiple languages including Malayalam, Tamil, Hindi, and other regional languages. This multilingual approach introduces audiences to a variety of storytelling traditions, theatrical styles, and cultural perspectives, making the festival both an educational and entertaining experience for children and families. Alongside stage productions, the festival often includes storytelling sessions, interactive performances, discussions, and creative activities that encourage active participation rather than passive viewing, helping young audiences appreciate theatre as a dynamic and collaborative art form. The event also serves as an important platform for children's theatre groups, directors, playwrights, actors, and educators to exchange ideas, showcase innovative productions, and explore new approaches to theatre for young audiences. Beyond the annual festival, Rangaprabhath Children's Theatre remains actively involved in promoting arts education throughout the year by organizing theatre workshops, acting classes, creative camps, cultural programmes, and training initiatives that help children develop artistic skills while fostering imagination, empathy, discipline, and self-confidence. These programmes emphasize experiential learning, allowing participants to explore acting, voice, movement, improvisation, storytelling, script development, and stagecraft under the guidance of experienced theatre practitioners. The institution's long-standing contribution to children's theatre has made it an influential centre for creative education in Kerala, inspiring generations of young performers and theatre enthusiasts. The National Children's Theatre Festival has consequently become more than an annual cultural event; it represents a celebration of childhood creativity, artistic collaboration, and the transformative power of theatre in education. Families visiting the festival can enjoy an engaging cultural atmosphere where performances, artistic interactions, and educational activities come together in a welcoming environment designed specifically for children and young learners. The natural surroundings of Rangaprabhath Natakagramam further enhance the experience by providing an inspiring setting for artistic exploration and community participation. As an annual festival, each edition features a unique programme of performances, participating theatre groups, workshops, and guest artists while maintaining its core objective of promoting quality children's theatre and cultural education. Official schedules, festival dates, participating theatre groups, workshop registrations, performance timings, and visitor information are announced by Rangaprabhath Children's Theatre for each edition through its official communication channels, enabling visitors, educators, parents, and theatre enthusiasts to access the latest updates before planning their participation.

🚆 Railway: Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station / Kochuveli Railway Station

✈️ Airport: Trivandrum International Airport

🚌 Bus: Nellanad Bus Stop / Venjaramoodu Bus Stand / Pirappancode Bus Stop

🏨 Stay: Budget lodges, homestays, eco-stays, and countryside accommodations available around Nellanad, Venjaramoodu, Pirappancode, and nearby rural areas

✅ Notes: Children’s Theatre Festival, Nellanad is a cultural event featuring children’s drama…