SwapnYaan

A Journey into the World of Children and Theatre

In a world rushing to make children more like adults, theatre offers a gentle rebellion — a space where children can remain children. Free. Curious. Wild. Imaginative. And entirely themselves. That is where SwapnYaan begins.

It began as a question — Can theatre become a real learning space for children? Not just a fun activity or a stage performance — but a deeper space for expression, exploration, and emotional growth. This question slowly shaped itself into a process, a philosophy, a commitment. We called it SwapnYaan — a vessel of dreams.

The idea was to move away from the idea of “teaching acting” and instead, discover with children what theatre could mean to them. Over the years, through countless workshops, we let children lead us — into their worlds, their joys, their confusions, their questions, their wild imaginations. And in return, we offered them the tools of theatre: rhythm, voice, movement, story, play, silence, ensemble.

What emerged was magical. A language was forming — one that was not borrowed from adults but born from within the children themselves. One that did not demand performance but celebrated presence. One that did not measure but witnessed. One that healed, slowly, softly — and sometimes, suddenly.

Over the last decade, SwapnYaan has grown — not as a product or program, but as a philosophy in action. It has travelled with us to tribal villages, urban schools, theatre festivals, alternative education spaces, and even rehabilitation centres. It has found its way into workshops, plays, residencies, and research — wherever children were truly heard, SwapnYaan found a home.

Over the years, SwapnYaan has also become the nurturing ground for several original children's plays — written and directed by Sourabh Anant — that have been nationally and internationally recognised for their craft and emotional resonance. Productions like Andher Jungle Chaupat Sher, Peeli Poonch, Totto Chaan, Takke The Dus Takke, Dupahar, Jungle ke Maharaja, Mitaogee Khongchatt, and Kaabul Keoibaa have not only engaged with young minds but have also earned invitations to some of India’s most prestigious theatre festivals — including Jashn-e-Bachpan (NSD, Delhi), National Children’s Theatre Festival (Mysore, Kerala, Odisha) and many others across the country. These plays continue to shape Vihaan’s unique presence in the field of contemporary children’s theatre in India.

This journey has taught us that children do not need to be "taught" theatre. They need to be trusted with it. And when that trust is given, theatre transforms — not into an artform to master, but a space to return to.

But SwapnYaan is not just a program. It is the seed of a larger dream.

Vihaan envisions SwapnYaan as a full-fledged Children’s Drama School — a dedicated space where theatre becomes a language of learning, healing, and self-discovery for children from all walks of life. The groundwork has already begun. Through years of workshops, productions, and artistic exploration, we’ve been building not just methods — but a philosophy.

India, with its immense cultural depth and youthful population, deserves such a space. A space where childhood is not hurried but honoured. Where play is not distraction but pedagogy. Where storytelling is not entertainment, but empowerment.

This dream needs hands, hearts, and support. With the right collaboration and shared vision, SwapnYaan is preparing to open its doors as a regular, sustained Children’s Drama School — the first of its kind in our region.

For us at Vihaan, this is not an ambition. It is a necessity. A responsibility.

And a gift we hope to pass on — to the future.