Malavika Varadan first discovered her love for theatre when she was 13, with the Artists Repertory Theatre in Bangalore. She went on to become a familiar voice on City 1016 for over 12 years, waking up over a million listeners with her morning show, Breakfast No. 1. She won the Khaleej Times Woman of Substance award in 2018.

Her TED talk on 7 ways to make conversation with anyone is one of the most-watched TEDx talks in the world, with 14 million views. She took The Hive over in January 2019 and now teaches both Drama and Communication Skills to over three hundred of our students, on top of leading this ship of 15 with a smile.

Sara is a master at getting the word out, a motivated and imaginative professional with a diverse skill set. Her achievements before joining The Hive include being a professor of communication at the Samhita Academy in Bangalore. A Speech and Drama Curriculum Director at the School of Genz. Writing and directing children's plays for LB Creations.

Having worked as an educator in Bangalore for over 7 years, she's realised the need to rebuild education and firmly believes that speech and drama are essential tools every child should have. At The Hive, Sara is Head of Marketing and Business Development as well as a teacher to almost a hundred of our little bees.

Shalton Charles D'Cruz is a bachelor's degree holder in psychology, literature, and performing arts from Christ University, Bangalore. An actor, a theatremaker, and a director. Shalton has directed several children’s plays and acted in multiple productions.

With over 8 years of experience teaching drama to children, Shalton has holistically understood the use of performing skills in child development. He has developed speech and drama curricula for EdTech companies such as Byju's. Shalton teaches over 200 of our students, from 3.5-year-olds to 18-year-olds. His ability to be one with his class makes his classroom a place where children find a space to thrive with ideas and creativity.

Manavi Keer hails from Bombay and is an Actor, Teacher and Production Manager. She is our brain behind the festival. As our Head of the festival, she creates and executes schedules, designs sets and costumes, and turns our theatre into a school, living room, ocean, forest, she creates magic with her ideas. She professionally started doing theatre at the age of 17, when she was the Festival Manager for India's largest youth theatre festival.

She has performed at some of the biggest theatres in Mumbai. She formally graduated in English Literature and Psychology. Today, she teaches students across our locations, her teaching methodologies stemming from her learnings and aiming to explore and have fun while creating a safe space full of creativity and imagination, with a little room for discourse and discussion.

Alyssa became a valued member of The Hive team in December of 2022. As part of the sales team, she plays a crucial role in ensuring every one of our new children and parents is understood, cared for, and fully immersed in the essence of The Hive. Prior to joining the team, she worked as an HR recruiter in the Philippines.

Alyssa is recognized for her exceptional composure during high-pressure situations, making her the go-to person for maintaining calmness, and her remarkable ability to meticulously streamline complex data into informative graphs, showcasing her adept organizational skills. She is also known for her incredible shoulder massages.

Jose is the behind-the-scenes powerhouse at The Hive who keeps everything running smoothly. From managing data and supporting our marketing efforts to coordinating communications and helping our clients who rent the theatre, he handles it all with care and precision.

His meticulous attention to detail and proactive approach ensure seamless coordination across departments. We deeply value Jose’s professionalism, reliability, and commitment, which contribute significantly to the smooth functioning and success of The Hive.

Our Aate Marison is the hands behind the festival. She expertly oversees both props and costumes, ensuring The Hive is impeccably organized. Her talent in crafting props and costumes is truly exceptional.

With an immensely creative mind, Marison offers innovative ideas and solutions for every project and challenge. Her positive demeanor and rapport with children are commendable.