Govandi Special Needs Students to Stage Tagore Play at NMACC on July 5
A group of young performers with special needs from The Gateway Studio in Govandi is preparing to stage Rabindranath Tagore's play 'The Land of Cards' (Tasher Desh) at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) on July 5. The performance, which will take place during the NMACC Bachpan children's festival, marks the students' first paid show at a major performing arts venue. It is also the first production at NMACC developed, produced, and presented entirely by young artistes with special needs.
The Gateway Studio is an initiative of The Gateway School of Mumbai, a special education school for children with disabilities. The studio's curriculum builds on the school’s performing arts programme, where therapists work alongside teachers to help students develop skills like sensory control, spatial awareness, and teamwork.
For the upcoming 30-minute production, the script was adapted to keep lines short and language simple. Drama teacher Aditi Dalal and performing arts coordinator Darshana Patwa used music, rhythm, and visual cues to assist the cast. During rehearsals in Govandi, the team replicated the exact layout of the NMACC stage, using taped, colour-coded Xs on the floor to guide actors who face spatial orientation challenges.
To support the performers during the live show, a prompter will sit in the front row using hand gestures and facial expressions. Lapel mics will assist students who struggle to project their voices, while butter paper will be used to soften harsh stage lights.
Among the cast is 16-year-old Anvi Khandekar, who plays the reformist prince. Khandekar shared that she has been working closely with her drama teacher to perfect the Bengali lyrics of the song "Ekla Cholo Re" for the performance.
The production also provides professional pathways. Farhan Dabhoiwala, a Gateway graduate who earned a postgraduate diploma in acting and theatre-making from the Drama School Mumbai, is currently working as a paid intern at the studio.
Abhishek Panchal, the school's vice-principal, stated that the larger goal is to advocate for inclusive theatre across Mumbai, from infrastructure to job opportunities. Director Quasar Thakore-Padamsee also noted the importance of adapting physical theatre spaces, such as widening backstage wings and greenrooms, to accommodate therapists, facilitators, and wheelchair users.
