Focused on helping children overcome their school stress through theatre, The Little Theatre Chennai, a non-profit organisation started in 1991, has completed 27 years of its proud journey. Through high-quality theatre productions and creative workshops, this platform has been helping children discover their hidden talents and overcome inhibitions by acting in the annual Christmas Pantomimes that have been staged every year.
Aysha Rau, the managing trustee and founder of the organisation, was 34 when she was asked by her father to start something which would work at the grassroots level. Thus was born The Little Theatre, which was registered as a trust since she did not want to give it to be a commercial venture.
“We work with underprivileged children for the theatrical workshops. The children from a privileged background pay for the workshop and get to act in the Christmas Pantomime show, which is the fundraiser for all our other programs”, says Aysha.
Every year, during the merry month of December the Christmas Pantomime is played by artistes who are children from the age of 5 to 15 and adults. For the past 23 years, this show has been helping them to reach out to other programmes such as educating children from the slums, workshops for 200 underprivileged children at the Chetpet corporation school, street theatre production and more. As many as 220 children auditioned this year to be a part of the annual show.
The Little Theatre took pride in introducing hospital clowns in 2015 at the Government Children’s Hospital — Egmore, Chennai, first of its kind in the nation. The latest emphasis of the organisation is combining arts and health together and is planning to set up a permanent studio at the hospital for terminally ill children who undergo chemotherapy. This aims to provide a creative therapy to the patients.
“Throughout the year we engage in creative workshops, which include toddler workshops for children aged 2-4. Campfire tales happen once every month. We are planning to spread to different parts of the world where we can bring happiness to many more children,” she said.
Under the inspirational category of Homepreneur Awards 2018, Aysha Rau was awarded, Rotary Club of Chennai Kilpauk and Chennai Towers has honoured her for her contribution towards the society with vocational excellence award and vocational services award respectively. The International Alliance for Women (TIAW) recognised her work at The Little Theatre and gave her the ‘World of Difference’ award among 99 other recipients worldwide for their significant contribution to the economic empowerment of women.
