Balurghat’s Young Thespians Captivate Kolkata with a Provocative Theatrical Inquiry

 December 27,2025

Children & Adolescents Theatre School left an indelible imprint

                          Kamal KumarBiswas.TOD.Balurghat 

Balurghat-based Kathak Children & Adolescents Theatre School left an indelible imprint on Kolkata’s theatre connoisseurs with its compelling production “Which Path Are We Walking?”, staged at the inauguration of the 31st Children’s Theatre Festival 2025, organised by the renowned Chetla Kristi Sangsad.A stalwart name in Bengali children’s theatre, Chetla Kristi Sangsad inaugurated its three-day festival on 26 December 2025, with performances scheduled across 26, 27, and 28 December, featuring six productions in total. The inaugural ceremony was graced by eminent architect Anjan Ukil, theatre practitioner Tuhin Subhra Mondal, chief organiser Pinaki Guha, child artiste Duhita Banerjee, and adolescent performer Ankita Biswas.

The opening-day presentation, “Which Path Are We Walking?”, marked the sixth Kolkata staging of the play. Previously, its fifth production was presented at the University Institute Hall under the aegis of Eso Natok Shikhi. Notably, amidst five Kolkata-based productions, this Balurghat ensemble stood as the sole outstation participant in the festival—an achievement underscoring its artistic credibility.At its core, the play delivers a piercing critique of contemporary education systems and institutional environments. Traversing spaces from rehearsal rooms to neglected school restrooms, the narrative gradually exposes the structural inadequacies and moral vacuums embedded within prevailing pedagogical frameworks. Through a potent jungle metaphor, the production dissects systemic flaws and envisions a more humane, child-centric educational paradigm.

Penned and directed by Tuhin Subhra Mondal, the production featured performances by Sayantika, Tanushia, Tapajyoti, Adrika, Shreyangshu, Monosrija, Aniruddha, Madhusmita, Samriddhi, Arshi, Adrija, alongside Mondal himself. Their collective performance was marked by sincerity, intellectual depth, and striking theatrical discipline.Festival director Pinaki Guha remarked, “Our mission is to foster cognitive and emotional development among children and adolescents through theatre. Inviting Kathak from Balurghat reflects our commitment to inclusive artistic exchange.”

Expressing his elation, director Tuhin Shubhra Mondal stated, “Being the only non-Kolkata troupe invited is an immense honour. For five years, we have been dedicated to nurturing young performers. Through children’s theatre, we aspire to bring distinction to Balurghat, a town long celebrated as a cradle of drama.”With its intellectual audacity and evocative storytelling, “Which Path Are We Walking?” not only enthralled the Kolkata audience but also reaffirmed the transformative power of children’s theatre in interrogating society’s most entrenched institutions.