February 23, 2026 | A forum theatre performance for Class 1 students at Shikhar School, Lalitpur, Nepal
The story began with panic. A frightened chicken ran across the stage shouting that the sky was falling. One by one, the animals believed the warning and followed the fear without questioning it.
But this time, the story did not continue on its own. They analyzed it, reimagined it and created their own version of its ending.
About the Story
Sky is Falling is an interactive adaptation developed by Bansri Pandey, inspired by the traditional folktale often known as Chicken Licken or Henny Penny. In this version, the story is designed using a forum theatre approach where the audience becomes part of the storytelling process.
When a misunderstanding spreads fear among the animals, the story pauses at the conflict. Instead of giving the audience a fixed ending, children are invited to discuss, question, and search for solutions themselves.
Should the animals continue running?
Should they trust the information immediately?
How can they protect each other?
Who should they believe?
The story opens space for children to think critically about fear, rumours, decision-making, and collective responsibility.
Children as Problem-Solvers
About 42 students of Class 1 participated in the session along with their teachers.
Rather than remaining seated as spectators, the children worked in groups to discuss what the characters should do next. Each group developed its own solution before coming on stage to act it out.
Some groups tried warning the animals carefully before spreading panic. Others created plans to investigate whether the danger was real. A few children focused on teamwork—protecting smaller animals and helping everyone stay calm.
The performance became less about “finding the correct answer” and more about understanding consequences, emotions, and choices.
Children used their bodies and voices to communicate ideas, negotiate with each other, and test their solutions on stage. Some confidently stepped into character while others quietly contributed ideas within their groups before participating together.
Instead of being told what the lesson of the story was, the children experienced the process of building meaning together.
Why Forum Theatre Matters for Children
Forum theatre allows children to actively enter the conflict of a story instead of passively observing it.
By discussing problems together and testing solutions physically through performance, children practice communication, collaboration, empathy, and decision-making in a natural way.
Stories become more than entertainment—they become spaces where children can rehearse thinking, questioning, and responding to the world around them.
In this session, children were not simply asked to “learn a moral.”
They were invited to think for themselves.
Many Thanks To
- Principal Anjila Bista and all the teachers of Shikhar School who supported
- All the children who participated
- Bansri Pandey – Storyteller and Facilitator
- Shishir Siwakoti – Actor in the role of Chicken
- Pragya Pandey – Music Support
- Surbhi Darnal – Photography Support
Concluding Remarks
The most interesting part of the performance was when the children began questioning the story itself.
Once they realized they had the power to interrupt, rethink, and reshape what was happening on stage, the story truly became theirs.
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