ND Puts On Its First Children’s Play, “The Gruffalo”

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Impactful advocacy does not always mean tackling the most pressing social justice issues in society–it can also mean getting involved with our community and spreading joy. ND’s Senior Thespian Officers are putting on their first children’s play, “The Gruffalo,” which will center on a series of engaging performances for young students in our area. 

Production is being led by the co-presidents of ND’s thespian troupe, with Gigi Bergman ‘26 directing rehearsal and Lila Seybold ‘26 as a stage manager. As part of their “Theatre for YOUth Initiative,” they’ve reached out to local elementary schools to perform and teach children who have limited opportunities for theatre.

“The Gruffalo,” a children’s book by Julia Donaldson, tells the story of a tiny mouse who outwits the fearsome Gruffalo by convincing a large monster not to eat him because he is the scariest creature in the woods. ND’s adaptation of the tale includes a backstory of “The Gruffalo’s Child,” a sequel to Donaldson’s best-selling novel, as well as a fun cast of distinct characters to keep children entertained. 

In choosing this beloved story to depict, Bergman said, “We asked students at one of our open ITS [International Thespian Society] meetings last year what their favorite childhood books were, and eventually narrowed down our options until we landed on The Gruffalo. We thought the overall message of the novel (that intelligence and creativity can be used to overcome adversity) was a good message to share with children.”

To keep young students fully immersed in the storytelling, performances will include a show from ND’s talented cast, followed by some theatre games. The actors participating will lead improv games and exercises to build children’s confidence and experience with acting.

By exposing children to theatre at a young age, hopefully, a love for the arts will be fostered within them as they grow up. Seybold says, “They’re going to come to high school and maybe not realize that it’s something that they can do, so I think kind of just sharing that everyone can do it, and even if they don’t have experience in it before, that’s okay.” Without having access to opportunities to perform, children may not know if that would be something they’d enjoy, or even an option at all. 

Showing children theatre expands beyond acting and into the more technical aspects of stage production. As Bergman says, “Though the play is actor-focused, something I want to share with the children as well is that there are opportunities to explore theater in leadership and technical capacities, from directing or stage managing a show to designing or building sets, costumes, props, and more. Theater has a place for everyone, and I want children to see themselves finding their place in theater!” Technical theatre may not be as popular as other extracurricular activities that children are exposed to, so providing them with access to theatre opportunities can reveal a passion they wouldn’t have discovered otherwise. 

Beyond simply introducing children to a hobby, participating in theatre teaches important life skills that will help them later on in life. Seybold explains, “I think theatre allows people to get a lot of confidence to try something new and to experiment, and you’re able to play a character who isn’t really you. But I think that leads to a lot more understanding and empathy.” Theater builds essential experience that we can carry through our lives and implement in our relationships and careers. Bergman says, “At every age, theater teaches invaluable skills, everything from effective collaboration and time management to emotional understanding and interpersonal skills.”

When we’re caught up in our lives, we may not often realize the privilege we have to pursue our interests. As social justice advocates, it is essential that we give back to our community, and one way we can do that is by sharing what we love with others!