June 29, 2026 | Shree Suryajyoti Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Jugepani, Hupsekot, Nawalpur, Gandaki Province, Nepal | Approximately 300–400 students, from Nursery to Class 10
What happens when a storyteller invites an entire school to become part of a story? On June 29, 2026, Bansri Pandey performed The Brave Tailor during the morning assembly at Shree Suryajyoti Madhyamik Vidyalaya, Jugepani, Nawalpur. Around 300–400 students, from Nursery to Class 10, gathered in the school assembly ground for this interactive solo storytelling experience.
The students were not just listeners. Throughout the story, they were invited to respond, make sounds and participate in bringing the story to life.
Watch the complete recorded performance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7EwH2r4QB0&t=191s
The Joy of Telling a Story Together
One of the most memorable aspects of the performance was hearing the students respond together. When hundreds of children said a word or made a sound at the same time, their collective voices filled the open ground. There was laughter, excitement and a shared sense of being part of the story.
Despite standing on the muddy ground for around 20 minutes, the students remained focused and engaged. Watching children across such a wide age range enjoy the same storytelling experience was special.
From Listening to Imagining
The experience continued beyond the performance. Follow-up drawing activities were conducted in three classrooms, where students were invited to draw elements of the story as they had imagined them while listening.
Instead of copying ready-made illustrations, children could create their own versions of the characters and moments from the story. It offered a glimpse into the different ways a story can take shape in a child’s imagination.
For us, this was a reminder that storytelling can create space for open-ended learning. Children listen, imagine, interpret and express what they have understood in their own ways.
Many Thanks To
- Bansri Pandey — Performer and Facilitator.
- Samita Rana Magar and the Project Rangichangi team.
- Bir Bahadur Kumal, Principal of Shree Suryajyoti Madhyamik Vidyalaya, and all the teachers.
- All the participating students for their energy and enthusiasm.
Sometimes, one storyteller and a shared story are enough to bring an entire school into an imaginative world.
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