Chandigarh
29 November 2024
DIVYA AZAD
Students of the Middle and Senior Wings at FirstSteps School, Sector 26, showcased their theatrical prowess by presenting My Fair Lady, a timeless classic based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion.
Over 1.5 months of dedicated preparation culminated in a 1 hour and 40 minutes play that was showcased under the direction of Neha Bakshi Kaushal from The Idea Box. The production involved 63 talented students from grades 6 to 10.
According to Japji Cheema, Chairperson, FirstSteps IB World School, “The play was chosen to immerse students in classic theatre, enhancing their understanding of larger-than-life characters, theatrical effects, and storytelling techniques.”
From Eliza Doolittle, a feisty, working-class flower girl with a strong Cockney accent, who aspires to improve her station in life, to Professor Henry Higgins, a brilliant but arrogant phonetics expert who takes on the challenge of transforming Eliza into a refined lady, the seniors were at their best in exploring themes of class, identity, and self-worth. The way the students enacted the literary characters left the audience spell bound.
The production, which included an expertly engineered soundtrack by a renowned Delhi-based sound engineer, captivated audiences with its heart and wit.
Earlier, the Junior Wing of the school too presented its annual production. The theme of the annual concert ‘Xeccion 2024-25’ was ” India’s odyssey to freedom”. A total of 439 students participated. The idea was to explore India’s struggle for freedom so that the students research and experience some important historical moments through a transdisciplinary approach of using various mediums of art, role-play, dance, vocals and music.
Japji Cheema added, “The production by the juniors was a way to pay homage to all our countrymen and to women who struggled, fought and gave up their lives for the freedom that we all now enjoy. We at FirstSteps feel that it is time to reflect on the fact that we are born in a great nation and very important that we don’t forget our values, culture, tradition and language.”
Explaining the teaching methodology at FirstSteps Japji said, “Our approach towards learning and teaching methodology ensures that students are exposed to a holistic education experience in an active and dynamic learning environment, giving them the opportunity to identify and realize their potential, and to achieve excellence in life.”