Inclusive Theatre

Every child has a story. Theatre gives them a stage.

Children and young adults with neurodiverse needs, taking centre stage across India through movement, music, acting and storytelling.

Our theatre journey → In the news

3Productions staged

120+Young performers

13States on one stage

3Cities, and counting

Why Theatre?

Much more than a performance on a stage

At the Smiling Dandelion Foundation, we believe theatre is a space to express, connect, imagine, and simply be oneself. For children and young adults with neurodiverse needs, theatre can open up a beautiful new way of communicating, allowing feelings, ideas and emotions that may be difficult to express in words to find a voice through movement, music, acting and storytelling.

It gives our children the opportunity to discover their strengths, build confidence, make friendships and experience the joy of creating something together.

“Every child has a story to tell, and theatre gives them a stage on which to tell it.”

A young performer in costume during an SDF theatre production

Our Theatre Journey

From one stage to the next

Rehearsed online from across the country, brought to life together on stage.

September 2025

Lucknow

~35 performers13 statesFirst large-scale production

Our first large-scale inclusive theatre production brought together around 35 children and young adults with Down syndrome from 13 different states. For two months, the participants rehearsed online, coming together virtually from across the country, before meeting in person for two days of rehearsals at the venue. Finally, they came together on stage to share what they had created. It was a joyful beginning to SDF’s journey in inclusive theatre and a wonderful reminder of what can happen when children are given the space, encouragement and opportunity to shine.

March 2026 · World Down Syndrome Day

Chandigarh: Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja

~40 performersNeurodiverse majorityPunjab Kala Bhawan

To celebrate World Down Syndrome Day, SDF brought together around 40 children and young adults with neurodiverse needs for the classic satire Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja. Three neurotypical children also performed alongside them. What made this production especially meaningful was that the neurodiverse performers were in the majority, turning the usual idea of an inclusive space on its head. Here, the neurodiverse children were leading, performing and occupying the centre of the stage. It was a celebration of togetherness, belonging and the simple joy of performing side by side.

Performers during Andher Nagri Chaupat Raja

September 2026

Bhubaneswar: a musical

~45 performers11 statesSong, dance & dialogue

Our theatre journey took us to Bhubaneswar, where around 45 children and young adults with Down syndrome from 11 different states came together to perform a musical. The children took on characters, learned dialogues, danced and brought their roles to life on stage. Once again, rehearsals began online, allowing everyone to prepare together before meeting in person for the final performance. Watching the children come together, support one another and enjoy every moment on stage made the production a truly special celebration of their creativity and spirit.

Coming up · March 2027

Back in Chandigarh

And the journey continues. In March 2027, we will be back in Chandigarh for our next performance, with neurodiverse performers once again taking centre stage. We look forward to another opportunity for our children to share their voices, their creativity and their stories with an audience. We hope you will join us, a celebration of theatre, inclusion and the many wonderful ways our children express themselves.

From the Stage