DH NEWS SERVICE
jammu, Jul 3
An extraordinary wave of imagination, innovation, and creative energy is sweeping through Natrang’s Summer Theatre Camps–2026, where young participants are discovering new dimensions of self-expression, confidence, and artistic excellence. Witnessing an overwhelming response from parents and children alike, Natrang has, for the first time, organized two simultaneous theatre camps, creating opportunities for a much larger number of young minds to experience its internationally acclaimed theatre training programme. Guided by Padma Shri Balwant Thakur and supported by a dedicated team of six to seven accomplished theatre professionals, this year’s camp has evolved into a vibrant laboratory of creativity. Employing cutting edge techniques in personality transformation, human development, and creative learning, the camp is inspiring children to think beyond conventional boundaries and unlock their limitless potential.
The defining feature of Theatre Camp–2026 is the personal involvement of Balwant Thakur, who has conceptualized, designed, and is closely monitoring every aspect of the programme. Drawing upon his vast international experience of working with children’s theatre institutions in England, Germany, South Africa, Mauritius, Italy, China, Singapore, the UAE, and the USA, he has introduced globally tested, innovative methodologies that offer participants an unmatched opportunity to experience theatre as a powerful medium of self-discovery and personal growth.
Every day at the camp unfolds as a journey of exploration, where children are encouraged to experiment, innovate, collaborate, and communicate through theatre. The programme opens new horizons of creativity by introducing alternative methods of self-exploration, enabling participants to develop confidence, emotional intelligence, leadership qualities, and artistic sensitivity.
Since 1990, Natrang has been organizing its prestigious 45-day Summer Theatre Camps, making it one of the longest-running and most professionally designed children’s theatre initiatives in the country. Over the last 36 years, it has emerged as Jammu’s most significant creative platform for children, offering a rare environment where imagination, aesthetics, culture, innovation, and performing arts come together to nurture young talent. Beyond theatrical skills, the camp helps children identify and develop their hidden strengths while building confidence, discipline, communication skills, and social awareness.
Speaking about the philosophy behind the initiative, Balwant Thakur, Director of Natrang, observed that while creative activities for children have become increasingly common, genuine creativity cannot be developed through casual or routine engagements. At Natrang, every exercise, activity, and performance is carefully designed and strategically executed by professionally trained experts to ignite originality, imagination, and independent thinking among children. He remarked that while many children spend their leisure hours glued to television screens or smartphones, the participants at Natrang Theatre Camp are investing their time in acquiring life changing skills. Theatre, he emphasized, is not merely about acting; it is a transformative educational process that develops confidence, intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, communication skills, emotional resilience, teamwork, and leadership qualities that remain invaluable throughout life. Natrang proudly stands as the only theatre organization in the country running a regular year-round Children’s Theatre Club, where children undergo continuous training in personality development, public speaking, self-organization, creative expression, and self-exploration through theatre. Building upon this remarkable legacy, Natrang is now preparing to launch an ambitious year-long theatre training programme aimed at helping children achieve self-actualization through a structured curriculum developed by experts. The comprehensive programme has been conceptualized and designed by Padma Shri Balwant Thakur, whose pioneering contributions have transformed children’s theatre in India through landmark productions such as “Rang Badalti Duniya,” “Bhag Beta Bhaag,” “Hum Hain Naa,” “Udaan,” “Mere Hisse Ki Dhoop Kahan Hai,” and “Aap Hamare Hain Kaun.”
Over the years, Natrang has invited distinguished experts from premier national and international institutions, including the National School of Drama, New Delhi, and the London International School of Performing Arts, to mentor young participants. The regular faculty includes National Award-winning theatre practitioner Sumeet Sharma, who holds a Master’s degree in Dramatics; Neeraj Kant, a veteran theatre artist with over 35 years of experience working with children; and Gauri Thakur, an accomplished theatre director with a Master’s degree in English Literature specializing in Drama.
The programme is further enriched by visiting experts from diverse artistic disciplines such as music, dance, painting, and visual arts, providing participants with holistic creative exposure. Internationally acclaimed choreographers Aakash Dogra, Sunny Mujoo and Nitika Aggarwal are also contributing their expertise, making the camp a multidisciplinary learning experience.
Theatre at Natrang extends far beyond the boundaries of stage performance. It nurtures qualities that empower young people to excel in every profession they choose. During the past 36 years, Natrang has trained, inspired, and mentored thousands of children, many of whom have gone on to distinguish themselves as actors, administrators, civil servants, doctors, engineers, judges, entrepreneurs, educators, managers, and social leaders.
This remarkable journey reaffirms a timeless truth that the confidence, creativity, spontaneity, discipline, communication skills, and emotional intelligence developed through theatre become lifelong strengths, enabling individuals to succeed in every sphere of life.
Through initiatives like the Summer Theatre Camp–2026, Natrang continues to reinforce its commitment to building not only a vibrant cultural landscape for Jammu and Kashmir but also a generation of creative, confident, compassionate, and intellectually empowered young citizens.
The lucky participants of Natrang Theatre Camp–2026 are Aarush Choudhary, Adeesha Singh, Adhrit Suri, Amayra Mahajan, Anika Sharma, Anvie Sharma, Athrv Khajuria, Bhavyashree Sharma, Eshaal Zulfkar, Hamzah Zulfkar, Haneet Vishal Salhotra, Jayantika Mahajan, Jazz Shah, Kamakhya, Kaustubh Sharma, Mohd. Saad Bandey, Namisha Mahajan, Nirvana Shah, Pehal Sharma, Priyansh Mehra, Rabhya Sharma, Riddhish Gupta, Riyaarth Sharma, Sanatan Gupta, Sarthak Balowria, Sawal Singh, Sharvil Mahajan, Shivanya Sharma, Shranaya Mahajan, Shravya Sharma, Tapas Shikhar, Twisha Sharma, Vaibhav Mahajan, Vamika Verma, Karanveer Singh, Jayaditya Jamwal and Navda Prasher.
