Founded in July 2001, the Theatre Group is currently rehearsing for its second production. This site aims to keep those interested updated about the Theatre Group and it's activities. It also aims to suppliment this with articles, reviews, concerning acting, direction, design and other technical aspects of theatre.

The IMAGO THEATRE GROUP is a Registered Society and was founded (in 2001) with the aim of providing Imago graduates the opportunity to extend their education and to launch their careers.

At the same time, ITG is committed to the development of original plays and playwrights, and to extending the boundaries of theatre's meaning, praxis and social spaces.

Its first year of operations resulted in the creation of its first play. It was the story of an actor in Delhi who achieves fame and fortune in Bollywood, but who suddenly and mysteriously disappears. The play (IT'S ALL ABOUT MONEY, HONEY) achieved considerable success, with performances at the NSD National Festival in Delhi, the Sangeet Natak Akademi National Festival in Mumbai, and further performances in Jammu, Chandigarh and Delhi (Dilli Ka Weekend Theatre and Spic- Macay).

The group has thirty members, continues to train itself and question itself about its quest in life. The new play is called IT'S ALL ABOUT GOD, HONEY. The group will also be involved in the IMAGO SCRIPTWRITING WORKSHOP.

IMAGO THEATRE-IN-EDUCATION COMPANY

Formally initiated in July 2002, the T.I.E. Company undertakes full - time, part- time and short-time assignments in schools and other institutions for children : regular drama classes or club activities, training workshops or play production. The aims of such projects are not so much to do with making 'star actors' of the children, but rather to do with the development of the their physical, mental and emotional abilities, and their overall personality development.

For more than thirty years, Barry John has pioneered work in the county in areas of children's theatre, theatre-in-education and drama therapy. It is logical, then, that IMAGO offers a range of services for children in school or out of it. At IMAGO itself there is the popular annual summer workshop in May and June, and a Saturday Club from July to January.

IMAGO staff and graduates also undertake full- time, part-time and short-term assignments in schools and other institutions for children : regular drama classes or club activities, training workship or play production. The aims of such projects are not so much to do with making 'star actors' of the children, but rather to do with the development of their physical, mental and emotional abilities, and their overall personality development.

TEACHER'S WORKSHOP

Teachers who use drama and theatre in their work with children (or adults) do not need to be actors themselves (although it helps). The real value of these subjects in education is not to do with play production but with the fact that they are more effective means or media of teaching / learning than conventional classroom (chalk-and-talk) methodology. The drama syllabus can be a vital reinforcement of what is learned in other subjects; it is not irrelevant fantasy play.

Teachers of children in schools, in special institutions for the disabled, in slums, or on the streets, can all benefit from the ability to use the techniques and methodologies of creative drama and theatre-in-education in order to make their work more participatory, more creative and more fun. IMAGO undertakes to design and facilitate training workshops for teachers of all levels of the educational spectrum.

YOUNG ACTORS CLUB

INITIATIVE :
It is common knowledge that the performing arts play a vital role in a child's development and education. It is experiential and holistic education that nurtures physical, emotional and intellectual growth in ways that children find meaningful and enjoyable. Sadly, for many children, their schools do no answer to this need and so they are deprived of opportunities to develop. To fill this vaccum, IMAGO has created the YOUNG ACTORS CLUB.

OBJECTIVES :
The YOUNG ACTORS CLUB (YAC) offers opportunities to young people who envince an aptitude for self- expression via the performing arts to harness and extend their skills. Being more than mere recreation, the YAC is interested in training the bodies, voices , minds and hearts of its members, developing personality, communication skills and creativity. Each annual session will culminate in a public performance.

ORGANIZATION :
The activities of the YAC come under the aegis of the IMAGO THEATRE-IN EDUCATION COMPANY. This is a company of trained and experienced actor-teachers that already works as an educational resource for schools under the directorship of SUKHESH ARORA.

The Club for much of the time will function in two groups :
GROUP 1 : Juniors : 8-12 years. 
GROUP 2 : Seniors : 13-16 years.

Occasionally the group will be integrated. As far as possible each group will comprise ten boys and ten girls.

SCHEDULE :
The annual session of the YAC is from August 2, 2003 to January 25, 2004. The YAC meets at the weekends so as not to interfere with school schedules. The timings are from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

FEES :
The fee for the six month session is Rs. 8,000 payable in advance at the time of registration.