One needs sponsors for children's theatres: Lewis

The children's theatre companies are facing the problem of economic sustainability in many countries, Kevin Lewis, the art director of Cardiff-based troupe 'Theatr Iolo' has said.
"We are very lucky to have received subsidy from the Wales and we perform before small audience - babies or different age of children," Lewis, in town to stage Iolo's 'Out of the Blue', told PTI here after a show at British Council here last evening.
'Out of the Blues' was a unique production for babies between the ages of 6-18 months.
"However the question faced by a lot of countries are that one needs sponsors for children's theatres. If you want to have really good shows for children, you need to arrange sponsors, arts council and the government need to initiate the move," Kevin, who has directed over 50 productions for 'Theatr Iolo', said.

Associate artiste Sarah Argent said a lot of research had been done for the production 'Out of the Blue' considering 'every aspect of neuro science, psychological elements and how babies respond to different sounds."
"We have invitations in Singapore and Macao," the two said. About questions of other projects, the duo said, "We have a show targeted to two to five year olds."

Director, British Council, East and North-East, Debanjan Chakrabarti said, "this year we are celebrating 70th year of the UK-India cultural relations...We wish to inspire people about theatre for babies and such narrative forms are very very innovative for India."

"Today's show proved how very young kids - infants and toddlers - respond to theatre. What we saw was amazing - an entire range of emotions infants are capable of. The show also enabled adults, care-givers of babies to explore new ways of art," he pointed out.
British Council and ThinkArts jointly produced the show.