Metaphors in Motion Workshop – Bengaluru | Connections Festival 2026

Explore the expressive power of metaphors through theatre, movement, sound, and imagination at the Metaphors in Motion Workshop at the Bangalore International Centre, Bengaluru, on Friday, 6 November 2026. Designed for young people aged 12 to 18 years, this interactive workshop invites participants to discover how abstract ideas and feelings can be communicated through creative expression.
Rather than limiting metaphors to written language, the session encourages participants to explore them through visual imagery, body movements, sounds, and words. Drawing inspiration from improvisational theatre and Playback Theatre, the workshop creates space for playful experimentation, intuitive thinking, and personal interpretation.
Led by Bengaluru-based artist Akash Narendran, the session welcomes children and their accompanying adults to explore theatrical ways of expressing emotions and symbolic ideas. The workshop ticket also includes free entry to one of two plays listed for the same day: Navayana (Fresh Air) at 5:00 PM or Level Up at 7:30 PM. Attendees should confirm the performance arrangements with the organiser before booking.

Event Details

Event Name: Metaphors in Motion Workshop.
Date: Friday, 6 November 2026.
Time: 5:00 PM.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes.
Venue: Bangalore International Centre, Bengaluru.
Age Group: 12 to 18 years.
Participation: Open to children and their accompanying adults, as stated in the event description.
Language: English, with Kannada translation.
Workshop Facilitator: Akash Narendran.
Workshop Format: Interactive theatre-based exploration using visual, bodily, sound-based, and word-based expressions.
Special Inclusion: Free entry to one of the listed performances, Navayana (Fresh Air) at 5:00 PM or Level Up at 7:30 PM.
Ticket Price: Not specified in the supplied information. Check the official event listing for pricing and availability.

About the Metaphors in Motion Workshop

A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes one thing as another to create meaning, comparison, or imagery. Metaphors help people communicate complex thoughts and emotions in ways that ordinary descriptions may not fully capture.
The Metaphors in Motion Workshop takes this idea beyond conventional language and into the world of theatre. Participants will explore how a feeling, experience, or abstract concept can be represented through a gesture, an image, a sound, or a carefully chosen word.
For example, someone might describe happiness as sunlight, uncertainty as a maze, or sadness as a heavy stone. In a theatre-based activity, these ideas can become movements, sounds, visual arrangements, or short expressive scenes. The workshop encourages participants to experiment with such connections and discover how different forms of expression can communicate meaning.
The session draws inspiration from improvisational theatre and Playback Theatre, both of which use spontaneous creativity and human experiences as material for performance. Through playful activities, participants can investigate how metaphors emerge naturally and how symbolic imagery can make feelings easier to express and understand.

Meet the Facilitator: Akash Narendran

The workshop will be led by Akash Narendran, a Bengaluru-based artist who has engaged with theatre and music for more than a decade.
Akash facilitates workshops for organisations, performs Playback Theatre, and sings. His experience across these creative practices connects performance, sound, storytelling, and human expression.
His background makes the workshop an opportunity for participants to explore metaphors through more than words alone. By using theatrical and musical approaches, attendees can experiment with how emotions and ideas may be expressed in different ways.
The session is designed around participation and exploration, allowing young people to engage with creativity without needing to approach every activity as a formal performance.

What Will Participants Explore?

Understanding Metaphors Through Imagination

Participants will explore how one idea can represent another. Rather than focusing only on definitions or literary examples, the workshop encourages them to discover metaphors through intuitive and theatrical activities.
This approach can help young people recognise how symbolic imagery works in everyday communication, storytelling, poetry, and performance. It also offers a way to think about abstract ideas by connecting them with images, objects, actions, and experiences.

Expressing Feelings Through Visual Imagery

Feelings can sometimes be difficult to describe directly. A metaphor can offer another way to communicate them by connecting an emotion with a visual idea.
During the workshop, participants will explore visual expressions that represent feelings and experiences. These activities may encourage them to think creatively about how colours, shapes, images, or imagined scenes can convey meaning.
The emphasis is on exploring possibilities rather than finding one correct answer. Different participants may express the same feeling through different images, reflecting the personal nature of creative interpretation.

Using Body Movement and Gesture

The body can communicate ideas even without spoken language. A gesture, posture, or movement may suggest confidence, hesitation, excitement, sadness, or tension.
The workshop will use bodily expression to explore metaphors theatrically. Participants can experiment with how movements represent abstract ideas and how physical expression can become part of a symbolic scene.
This activity encourages observation, imagination, and awareness of non-verbal communication.

Exploring Sound and Words

Sound and language can also create metaphorical meaning. A particular sound may suggest a mood, while a word or short phrase can transform an abstract feeling into a vivid image.
Participants will explore sound-based and word-based expressions as part of the workshop. These activities connect spoken language with other forms of creative communication, demonstrating how meaning can develop through rhythm, tone, sound, and association.

Learning Through Improv and Playback Theatre

The workshop draws from the worlds of improvisational theatre and Playback Theatre. These approaches provide inspiration for responding spontaneously to ideas, experiences, and emotions.
Participants will have opportunities to explore metaphors through playful theatrical expression. The focus is on discovery, collaboration, and creative interpretation rather than memorising a fixed script.

Who Can Attend This Workshop?

The workshop is intended for young people aged 12 to 18 years and is described as open to both children and their adults. Parents or accompanying adults should check the ticketing arrangements to confirm whether they need separate tickets and how participation is organised.
The session may appeal to teenagers interested in theatre, music, storytelling, creative writing, movement, or personal expression. It can also be relevant to young people who want to explore new ways of communicating emotions and ideas.
No specific prior theatre experience is mentioned in the supplied event description. Interested participants should confirm with the organiser whether beginners can participate and whether any preparation is required.

Language and Participation

The workshop will be conducted in English, with Kannada translation. This arrangement can help participants follow the activities and engage with the facilitator's instructions.
The event description does not provide a list of materials participants should bring. Attendees should check the official listing for any additional requirements and instructions before arriving.

Special Inclusion: Entry to a Theatre Performance

The workshop ticket includes free entry to one of two performances listed for Friday, 6 November 2026.
Navayana (Fresh Air): Scheduled for 5:00 PM.
Level Up: Scheduled for 7:30 PM.
These performances offer an opportunity to experience theatre alongside a workshop that explores symbolic expression and theatrical imagination. However, the workshop is also listed at 5:00 PM, which overlaps with the advertised start time of Navayana (Fresh Air).
Attendees should contact the organiser to confirm the workshop schedule and whether the free performance entry applies before or after the session. They should also verify how the included performance ticket is issued and whether advance seat selection is required.

Venue Information

The workshop will take place at the Bangalore International Centre in Bengaluru. The supplied event details do not include the complete street address or the specific room where the session will be held. Participants should refer to the official event page or booking confirmation for directions and arrival instructions.
The ticket conditions request that attendees arrive 60 minutes before the show time for smooth entry. Seating is subject to availability and may be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Because the workshop and one included performance share the same listed start time, confirming the correct reporting time is especially important.
Parking is available subject to availability, and vehicles are parked at the owner's risk.

Important Terms and Conditions

Tickets are generally non-refundable and non-exchangeable after registration, except under the stated postponement or cancellation provisions. Each ticket is valid for one person, and admission remains subject to the venue's rules and right to refuse entry.
Attendees must comply with age restrictions and entry instructions. Late arrival may affect seating, and event timings may change without prior notice. The event is also subject to force majeure conditions.
Cameras, bottles, cans, and tins are prohibited inside the venue. Audio and video recording equipment is not permitted, and photography or videography using mobile phones is prohibited. Food and beverages are not allowed in the auditorium. Mobile phones must be switched off once a performance begins, and smoking, alcohol, and banned substances are prohibited.
By attending or participating, guests consent to being photographed, filmed, or recorded for the organisers' stated publication and display purposes. The venue and organiser do not accept responsibility for lost or stolen personal belongings or personal injury as outlined in the ticket conditions.
Participants and accompanying adults should read the complete terms and conditions before registering and follow any additional instructions issued by the organiser.