Jul 18 2026 to Jul 25 2026 7:30 p.m.

Price: 500

Where

Ranga Shankara

36/2, 8th Cross Rd, R K Colony, 2nd Phase, J. P. Nagar 560078

Event Description

At Ranga Shankara, AHA! Theatre for Children isn’t just a programme we run—it is a conviction we live by every single day. We believe, with all our hearts, that if you give children the magic of theatre at a tender age, you are giving them the tools to blossom into deeply sensitive, creative, and empathetic human being.

Our plays are designed to do so much more than just entertain. They trigger the imagination, start curiosity, and get young minds thinking, feeling, and problem-solving through a beautiful mix of visual, physical, and sensory storytelling.

Let’s face it: conveying complex ideas to a child can be daunting. But on stage, abstract concepts—whether it’s breaking down rigid stereotypes, understanding life processes, or waking up to a environmental conservation—become alive and deeply relatable. Theatre manages to gently cultivate values like kindness, collaboration, and deep empathy, almost like magic, without ever feeling like a lecture.

And in today’s world, where screens are constantly fighting for our children’s attention and shrinking their focus to mere seconds, stepping into a theatre is an act of beautiful resistance. Sitting together in the dark, watching a live performance unfold, teaches our children the rare art of patience. It opens their hearts to the wonder of the performing arts, an honestly, that is a gift they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.

AHA! Theatre for Children Program ‘Theatre For Children’ as a genre holds great importance in the development of a child. It develops an everlasting love of art, and exposes them to questions and scenarios that feed into their ever-expanding curiosity and imagination. It is an investment we make in their future. Ranga Shankara, is among the few institutions in the country that creates and consistently showcases theatre for children. Started in 2009, the AHA! Theatre for Children program is Ranga Shankara’s most ambitious program to date, bringing the magic of theatre in all its aspects to children and theatre makers in the country. By bringing world-class productions from across the globe, Ranga Shankara is laying the foundation for a theatre movement and network for ‘Theatre for Children’ in India.

Ranga Shankara AHA! International Theatre For Children Festival 2026. This year, the 16th Edition of the AHA! International Theatre For Children Festival is back and bigger than ever! Scheduled from July 18th to 25th, 2026, this is a must-attend for parents, educators, and young theatre enthusiasts. With a mission to cement its place as a premier global showcase for Theatre for Children, the festival brings a powerhouse lineup of 8 plays featuring a mix of domestic and international troupes from Argentina, South Korea, Austria, Switzerland, France, Germany, and India.

This year, the AHA! International Theatre For Children Festival is making its way to one more city in India - Ahmedabad. Double the locations, double the joy! Neekoee Foundation will be our partner in Ahmedabad. Neekoee Foundation (Ahmedabad) is the upshot of Neena and Naishadh’s 20-year long journey in the world of art and culture in Ahmedabad. Neekoee strongly believes that art has several intrinsic benefits that enrich our emotions, stimulate our minds and entertain us. Individuals and communities cherish arts and culture for these benefits. By bringing thought provoking productions, delivering top quality workshops, supporting local artists and providing a platform to community members and students to engage with artists of international repute they aim to widen the reach of art and culture across social, economic and cultural divides in the city. The explicit charter of the Foundation is to bring these benefits to Ahmedabad for the improvement of the individual and the society by bringing communities and cultures of the region, country and the world

PLAY SCHEDULE:

Bengaluru

18th July - Sortilegio (Alchemist) [Argentina] – 3.30 & 7.30PM

19th July - Giant’s Table [South Korea]- 3.30 & 7.30PM

20th July - Miniatures [Austria] – 7.30PM

21st July - Chifumi [Switzerland] – 7.30PM

22nd July - Jonathan & The Blue Table [France] – 7.30PM

23rd July - Moon’s Magic & Sapling [India] – 7.30PM

24th July - Postal [Germany] 7.30PM – 7.30PM

25th July - The Day My Father Became a Bush [Germany) - 3.30 & 7.30PM

Ahmedabad:

22nd July - Postal [Germany]

23rd July - Miniatures [Austria]

24th July - Chifumi [Switzerland]

Venue: Ranga Shankar, JP Nagar, Bengaluru

Date: 18 – 25 July 2026
Timing: Weekdays 7.30PM

Weekends 3.30 & 7.30 PM

Tickets are priced at Rs. 500/- and available on www.bookmyshow.com and Ranga Shankara Box office.

ANCILLARY EVENTS

Beyond the Stage:

Immersive Workshops, and Spaces for Children to Explore Creativity. Stepping beyond traditional performances, Ranga Shankara’s AHA! International Theatre for Children Festival 2026 is set to transform into a buzzing hub of learning and tactile creativity with its curated lineup of ancillary events. Designed to deepen the festival experience for both theatre professionals and young audiences, this year’s ancillary programming features three intensive workshops led by global and national masters, alongside interactive "fun-time" creative zones for children. From the architectural precision of micro-storytelling to the collective engineering of giant spectacles, the festival’s masterclasses bridge international expertise with local practice.

The Greatness of the Miniature

From July 12 to July 17. Omayra Martínez Garzón will lead an intensive five-day laboratory introducing practitioners to Lambe Lambe theatre—the rare art of creating secret, fully realised dramatic worlds inside small boxes, performed for a single audience member at a time.

Build a Beast! ( From July 20 to July 24. Acclaimed Indian puppet designer Md. Shameem will orchestrate a large-scale, collaborative workshop for adults to construct giant animal puppets out of simple materials. The workshop culminates in a massive, site-specific public performance on July 24th and 25th, bringing these giant beasts to life in the streets.

Theatre for Young Audiences

Artistic Position, Society, Implementation On 25 July, from 10.00 AM to 02.00 PM. Renowned German director and dramaturg Andrea Gronemeyer will helm a vital, invitation-only symposium for educators, practitioners, and social workers. The session tackles the intersection of art, education, and social responsibility in a multilingual world.

Igniting the Creative Flame

Fun-Time Activities for Children While professionals immerse themselves in masterclasses, Ranga Shankara’s foyer and outdoor spaces will transform into an interactive playground dedicated entirely to children.

Running parallel to the festival line-up, these hands-on, fluid creative zones are designed to spark curiosity and let kids get their hands dirty. Managed by playful facilitators, these spaces ensure that every child visiting the festival doesn't just watch theatre—they actively unlock their own inner artist, taking home a piece of their own imagination.