Babies’ Day Out: Bends and Flows targets an audience between 18 months and three years

A new play, Bends and Flows, targets an audience between 18 months and three years.

A scene from an earlier performance of the play

They may not walk as yet, but toddlers aren’t too young for theatre. A new play, Bends and Flows, gives babies their first experience of theatre this weekend. Director Subhashim Goswami, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, takes time off from rehearsing with actors Samta Shikhar and Bikram Ghosh to talk about the challenges of making a “full-fledged production, devised over three months” for toddlers that must appeal to parents as well. Edited excerpts from an interview with the director:

This Play isn’t a Game

Toddlers are not allowed anywhere and definitely not welcome into a theatre space. Yet, children between 18 months and three years have the power to retain images and enjoy a visual and aural experience. Theatre for Toddlers is a new concept in India, and our actor Samta Shikhar was introduced to it at a workshop with a theatre pedagogue from Germany, Marcela Herrera-Oleas, who specialises in creating Theatre for Toddlers. This was organised by the Ranga Shankara Theatre and Max Mueller Bhavan in Bangalore. In 2012, we premiered Bends and Flows at the Aha International Theatre Festival for Children in Bangalore.

Listen, There’s No Story

Adults may be able to construct a narrative from the sounds and sights but this play does not have a linear narrative, with a beginning and an end, unlike the fast-moving and colourful cartoon programming that arrests their attention, but does not engage with toddlers. Bends and Flows has two actors on stage who create a series of images, sounds and movements with their bodies and props such as kala chana, a grinding stone and sieves. Using 30kg-35kg of chana, they make a winding road on which they walk and which transforms into a river, allowing actors to catch fish and ride a boat. The music is made by the grinding stone as it changes the seeds into powder or when one actor pours the chana onto a sieve held up by another so that it sounds like the falling rain.

Take a Ringside Seat

Theatre for Toddlers cannot be staged in a large hall with hundreds of people in the audience. It needs an intimate setting, where children sit on the same level as the stage or around the performance area. Moreover, there
are no aggressive movements and no black-outs.

The play will be held at a private venue on Saturday and Sunday at 11 am and 4 pm. Entry: Free. Contact: 9999777543

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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