March 12, 2026 | An interactive storytelling performance for Nursery to Class 3 students at IGK Preschool, Lalitpur, Nepal
One of the most interesting things about performing for a mixed age group is watching how differently children experience the same story. At IGK Preschool, around 60 children from Nursery to Class 3 gathered in the school’s outdoor area for the performance of माछाको रंगीन सपना (Fish’s Rainbow Dream). And almost immediately, the space began responding in layers.
The younger children reacted instinctively. They laughed loudly, pointed at props, repeated sounds, sang along, and fully entered the fantasy of the story.
The older children watched differently. They observed patterns, responded to emotional moments, helped younger children follow the story, and began thinking through the characters’ problems together.
Both groups were inside the same story—but each experienced it in their own way.
About the Story
माछाको रंगीन सपना (Fish’s Rainbow Dream) follows the journey of a black-and-white fish who dreams of finding colours in its world.
As the fish travels through different spaces and encounters new characters, children help move the story forward through songs, actions, questions, and participation. The performance uses theatre, music, movement, and interaction to invite children into the storyworld instead of keeping them outside as spectators.
The story gently opens conversations around curiosity, friendship, teamwork, imagination, and seeing the world differently.
The Experience
There were moments where the whole audience sang together, moments where children collectively tried solving problems for the fish, and moments where laughter spread across the entire courtyard.
Rather than feeling like a staged performance, the session slowly became a shared activity that everyone contributed to in their own way. Instead of separating age groups, the performance allowed children to experience storytelling as an activity where everyone participates differently, but together.
During the performance, one of the teachers joined the story in the role of the fairy. This role is intentionally offered to teachers or parents in this play because we want children to see magic not as something distant or imaginary, but as something that can exist in familiar people around them. The teacher entered the role with warmth and spontaneity, and the children instantly accepted her as part of the story-world. Her presence created moments that felt playful, relaxed, and personal for the audience.
The outdoor setup gave the performance an open and energetic atmosphere. Children sat close to the performance area, often reacting before the actors even finished speaking. Some shouted answers immediately, some copied movements, while others quietly observed before joining in.
Taking the Story Home Through Art
After the performance, the children were given an outline drawing of a fish to colour using their own imagination.
Some filled their fish with rainbow patterns, some used unexpected colour combinations, while others carefully added tiny details and textures inspired by the performance. The activity became an extension of the story itself—allowing children to continue engaging with the idea of colour, identity, and creativity in their own personal way.
What was interesting was how differently each child imagined the fish. Even though they had all experienced the same story together, every artwork reflected a unique interpretation and emotional connection to the performance.
The activity also created a calmer reflective moment after the energetic storytelling session. Children sat together discussing colours, showing their drawings to one another, and continuing conversations from the story through art and play.
Many Thanks To
- Mrs. Prabina Shakya and teachers of IGK Preschool
- All the students who participated
- Shishir Siwakoti – Actor in the role of the Rainbow Fish
- Bansri Pandey – Actress in the role of Black & White Fish
- Pragya Pandey – Music Support
- Gunjan Luitel – Photography Support
Concluding Remarks
Children do not all experience stories in the same way—and that is what makes shared storytelling spaces meaningful.
At IGK Preschool, the younger children brought spontaneity, the older children brought reflection, and together they created a story-world shaped by participation, curiosity, and collective imagination.
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