A play for children discusses human-animal conflict

‘Gajam’, produced by Kochi-based Rasa Theatre Collective, is one of the entries at the ThinkArts International Festival For Young Audiences 2021

With their maiden production, Rasa Theatre Collective’s Gajam, a play for children, theatre makers Rahul Thomas and Sidharth Varma, raise the pertinent issue of human-animal conflict. One of the plays being screened at the ThinkArts International Festival For Young Audiences 2021, Gajam examines the historical, yet troubled relationship between humans and elephants.

Recipients of the ThinkArts Grant, awarded to five people this year, Rahul and Sidharth made Gajam to tell the world a story from their land. The elephant is an enduring image representing Kerala and human-elephant encounters in the State have been on the rise. “We wanted a theme that was culturally-rooted, yet would resonate with a global audience,” says Rahul.

The first edition of the ThinkArts International Festival for Young Audiences was held in 2019. Owing to the pandemic, this year the festival is being held online. The festival would screen 10 plays — from India, Switzerland, Australia, Germany and Indonesia. A Kolkata-based organisation, ThinkArts “facilitates transformative art experiences for children and young adults”.