Happy Birthday

In a forthcoming play, a squirrel celebrates his birthday in style — with Swiss puppeteer Margrit Gysin lending a helping hand

This is Gysin’s fifth visit to India, and previous trips have taken her through Chennai, Kolkata, Varanasi, Bangalore and Delhi.

July is a cruel month to have an outdoor party, what with the sun shooting down flames and the air so humid you could irrigate a field. But Squirrel, who lives in the woods, wants to celebrate his birthday and invites all his friends who can crawl, creep, fly or swim to the big bash. As he writes out personalised invitations on pieces of bark, the play Squirrel’s Birthday begins to resemble a child’s party with a bizarre guest list. “There are all kinds of animals characters at the party, represented through puppets and all of them behave like humans,” says Margrit Gysin, 65, a veteran Swiss puppeteer, who has made hand and glove puppets for the play. Squirrel’s Birthday will be staged at Akshara Theatre on July 24 and 25.

The animal puppet characters have well-defined personalities and Gysin knows them like close friends. “Ant is a little unsure, soft-hearted and kind while Squirrel is child-like and generous. He wants to be nice to everybody and is working hard for his birthday so that his friends can have a good time,” she says, and then adds with a hint of warning, “Bear is very greedy.” Squirrel has also invited Whale, who lives in the deep oceans, and the frisky firefly.

This is Gysin’s fifth visit to India, and previous trips have taken her through Chennai, Kolkata, Varanasi, Bangalore and Delhi where she has watched “wonderful shadow puppets of India” besides other traditional puppets of the country. “For the Delhi show, Squirrel invites animals he might not have known if Squirrel’s Birthday were being presented in Switzerland. We have Lion and Peacock coming to the party here,” says Gysin. The play, directed by Andrea Gronemeyer of Schnawwl Theatre & Young Opera, Mannheim, Germany, will be presented by Arundhati Nag of Bangalore-based Ranga Shankara.

Gysin entered the world of puppets more than 40 years ago in Paris and has worked with specially abled children who “react emotionally to puppets” before she turned to the art form completely by creating her own puppets, including their costumes. Ever since, she has been based in Switzerland but trots the globe with her puppets. “Presenting plays such as Squirrel’s Birthday to children is heartening because these are about the joys of sharing and the ability to give and take,” she says.

Squirrel’s Birthday will be held at Akshara Theatre on July 24 and 25. Time: 7 pm. Entry: Rs 200 available at venue and Bookmyshow. Contact: 23364326

Dipanita Nath

Dipanita Nath is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. She is a versatile journalist with a deep interest in the intersection of culture, sustainability, and urban life. Professional Background Experience: Before joining The Indian Express, she worked with other major news organizations including Hindustan Times, The Times of India, and Mint. Core Specializations: She is widely recognized for her coverage of the climate crisis, theatre and performing arts, heritage conservation, and the startup ecosystem (often through her "Pune Inc" series). Storytelling Focus: Her work often unearths "hidden stories" of Pune—focusing on historical institutes, local traditions, and the personal journeys of social innovators. Recent Notable Articles (December 2025) Her recent reporting highlights Pune’s cultural pulse and the environmental challenges facing the city during the winter season: 1. Climate & Environment "Pune shivers on coldest morning of the season; minimum temperature plunges to 6.9°C" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the record-breaking cold wave in Pune and the IMD's forecast for the week. "How a heritage tree-mapping event at Ganeshkhind Garden highlights rising interest in Pune’s green legacy" (Dec 20, 2025): Covering a citizen-led initiative where Gen Z and millennials gathered to document and protect ancient trees at a Biodiversity Heritage Site. "Right to breathe: Landmark NGT order directs PMC to frame norms for pollution from construction sites" (Dec 8, 2025): Reporting on a significant legal victory for residents fighting dust and air pollution in urban neighborhoods like Baner. 2. "Hidden Stories" & Heritage "Inside Pune library that’s nourished minds of entrepreneurs for 17 years" (Dec 21, 2025): A feature on the Venture Center Library, detailing how a collection of 3,500 specialized books helps tech startups navigate the product life cycle. "Before he died, Ram Sutar gave Pune a lasting gift" (Dec 18, 2025): A tribute to the legendary sculptor Ram Sutar (creator of the Statue of Unity), focusing on his local works like the Chhatrapati Shivaji statue at Pune airport. "The Pune institute where MA Jinnah was once chief guest" (Dec 6, 2025): An archival exploration of the College of Agriculture, established in 1907, and its historical role in India's freedom struggle. 3. Arts, Theatre & "Pune Inc" "Satyajit Ray, Ritwik Ghatak were not rivals but close friends, says veteran filmmaker" (Dec 17, 2025): A deep-dive interview ahead of the Pune International Film Festival (PIFF) exploring the camaraderie between legends of Indian cinema. "Meet the Pune entrepreneur helping women build and scale businesses" (Dec 16, 2025): Part of her "Pune Inc" series, profiling Nikita Vora’s efforts to empower female-led startups. "How women drone pilots in rural Maharashtra are cultivating a green habit" (Dec 12, 2025): Exploring how technology is being used by women in agriculture to reduce chemical use and labor. Signature Style Dipanita Nath is known for intellectual curiosity and a narrative-driven approach. Whether she is writing about a 110-year-old eatery or the intricacies of the climate crisis, she focuses on the human element and the historical context. Her columns are often a blend of reportage and cultural commentary, making them a staple for readers interested in the "soul" of Pune. X (Twitter): @dipanitanath ... Read More

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