January 27, 2026 | A forum theatre storytelling performance for Class 1–4 students at Shristi Academy, Kathmandu

A hall full of children slowly turned into a forest. There were whispers, sudden movements, and rising excitement— as one question spread through the space: Is the sky really falling?

About the Story

Sky is Falling is an interactive adaptation inspired by the folktale Chicken Little, reimagined through a forum theatre approach and written and performed by Bansri Pandey.

The story begins with a simple misunderstanding —a falling object that fell on a chicken is mistaken for the sky collapsing. As fear spreads, animals begin to follow the news without questioning it, leading them into danger.

At a crucial moment of conflict, the story pauses. Instead of continuing, the children are invited to step in— to question, rethink, and decide what should happen next.

Through this, the story opens up themes of critical thinking, awareness, and the importance of not blindly following information.

A Shared Experience Through Forum Theatre

This performance was conducted for around 45 students from Class 1 to 4, along with their teachers.

The story unfolded with energy and humor, drawing children into the world of the characters. But soon, the narrative paused—creating space for the children to respond.

They were divided into groups, where discussions began to take shape.

What should the characters do?
Is the sky really falling?
How can they stay safe?

Each group developed their own ideas—and then brought them to life on stage.

They used their voices, bodies, and movement to enact their solutions, experiencing firsthand whether their ideas worked within the story.

“I really liked the open ending; it really gave children to think of their own story ending. Very creative.” – Grace Mainali, Teacher

The Experience

The hall transformed into a vibrant story-world where children were not just watching—they were actively participating.

“Very child friendly, well-enacted and interesting presentation. Children were engaged and they connected with the characters.” – Vani Pradhan, Principal at Shristi Academy

There were moments of laughter, surprise, and deep thinking. Children collaborated within their groups, expressed their ideas confidently, and supported each other in bringing those ideas to life.

The process encouraged teamwork and communication—allowing each child to contribute in their own way.

“Absolutely mesmerizing and extraordinary from start to finish with such engaging activities. The actor was splendid. Kudos to the entire team!” – Junu Angnuhang, Teacher

The Power of Participation

Through this process, children were not just solving a problem in a story—they were understanding how they respond to situations.

They explored how information spreads, how emotions influence decisions, and how important it is to pause and think.

As they enacted their ideas, they also reflected on their own perspectives—building awareness of their thoughts and actions.

One teacher beautifully expressed this connection,
“The whole play was so real. I could really feel the play… my kids loved it and it was a very fun and nice experience altogether.”

Another added,
“I loved the play. I want these kinds of plays frequently in our school.” – Purnima Jha

The Approach

This performance follows a forum theatre approach—an experiential form of storytelling. Children are not passive listeners. They become thinkers, creators, and decision-makers within the story.

By stepping into the narrative, they experience conflict, explore solutions, and reflect on outcomes—developing critical thinking, empathy, and communication skills.

Stories become a way to understand the real world—
not just by hearing it, but by living it.

Many Thanks To

• Vani Pradhan – Principal at Shristi Academy
• All the children and teachers of Shristi Academy who participated
• Bansri Pandey – Storyteller and Facilitator
• Shishir Siwakoti – Actor in the role of Chicken
• Rasodita Adhikari – Music Support
• Pukar Raj Bhandari – Photography Support
• Pragya Pandey – Support

Concluding Remarks

Sometimes, a story begins with fear—
but it is through questioning that it finds clarity.

In this shared space of imagination and reflection, children didn’t just follow the story—they reshaped it.

And in doing so, they discovered something important—
that every story, like every situation, holds the possibility of change.

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