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OUR STORY

Started by Jimish and Darshana Thakkar in early 2015, The Hive was conceived as a space which would be used to spread joy and teach the art of Drama to children. By mid 2015, The Hive adopted the Trinity College London curriculum and started structuring their courses in accordance with the guidelines of the Speech and Drama and Communication Skills programmes. This decision was taken in order to give our students something tangible to work towards, beyond the performance showcase at the end of each term.

So far, over 1500 students have appeared and successfully cleared various grades of the Trinity College examination. The students of the Hive have performed mega productions such as The Adventures of Indiana (2016), The Boy Who Lived (2017), The Unfortunate Orphans (2018), Makdee (2018), and The Reader of Books (2019), Enormous Crocodile (2021). We have also been pioneers of UAE's largest children's theatre festival powered by Crayola, where in a whopping 300 child actors took the stage performing in massive Roald Dahl productions like Matilda, James and The Giant Peach, The Witches, and The Enormous Crocodile (2022) Our Young Actors Club took the stage by tears and heart in the play adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen (2022).

What started as a dream with 3 batches and 15 students a week, is now a well-oiled machine that sees more than 500 students come over to our studio in Bur Dubai and JLT every week.!

The Hive now has a home in the JLT Cluster – N area of Dubai as well. With Malavika Varadan at the helm since early 2019, The Hive is now comprised of a dedicated, driven, and dynamic group of women who are all deeply passionate about what they do.

MALAVIKA VARADAN

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.

JENALYN AQUINO

Jenalyn, Jen to us, keeps The Hive buzzing. If you've ever called us at the centre, you've spoken to Jen. With a strong background in Business Management, Jen's role, in the 10 years that she has been with us, has been ever-evolving and increasing.

She now handles all our sales and is the Head of Operations for all 7 of our locations. She has single-handedly brought us from a school for 100 children to now over 1000 students strong. She is instrumental in keeping The Hive running and, more importantly, our team sane. Our COO and our Jen!

SARA ANAND

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.

NATASHA POOJARI

Natasha has been at The Hive since 2021. For the 2,000+ parents who are part of The Hive community, Natasha is the person they turn to for just about everything. Whether it's sorting out the tiniest show day detail, answering a flood of questions, or making sure Trinity exam registrations are perfectly handled, she does it all; quickly, and with a smile.

As Head of Administration, she leads a team that ensures everything runs seamlessly behind the scenes. She’s a pro multitasker, a problem-solver, and the kind of person who always seems to have the answer. Natasha is a vital part of The Hive machinery.

SHALTON D’CRUZ

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.

ANIMESH KAMATH

Animesh Kamath is a passionate drama teacher and performing artist from Mumbai, now based in Dubai, with over 15 years of experience in India and the UAE. His career spans acting, voice work, directing, stunts, and teaching, shaped by work with top names like Walt Disney India, Viacom18, UTV, Bollywood Parks, and Mirage Entertainment.

Trained under theatre greats like Pt. Satyadev Dubey, Alyque Padamsee, and Sambhaji Sawant, and a graduate of the National School of Drama, Animesh brings deep craft and energy to everything he does. His teaching is lively, loving, and full of fun. Kids connect with him instantly, and parents admire the confidence and creativity he sparks in their children. His classes aren’t just about drama, they’re about helping young voices shine.

MANAVI KEER

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.

SHWETA NAIR

Shweta is someone who believes that when life throws storms and rain your way, you build paper boats and splash around in the puddles. A lawyer turned educator, she realized that the real change she wanted to create was happening in classrooms, not courtrooms.

A former Teach For India fellow, she’s now the go-to person for organizing anything—from creative classroom experiences to full-blown projects. When she’s not teaching, you’ll likely find her dreaming up her next big idea or tinkering away on a project that brings joy and impact to young minds.

ALYSSA MARIE SANTIAGO

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.

FATHIMA FARVEEN

Fathima Farveen has been an important part of The Hive team since early 2025. Working alongside Natasha, she manages a wide range of responsibilities with efficiency and a positive spirit.

From coordinating last-minute details to supporting smooth daily operations, Fathima ensures that everything behind the scenes flows seamlessly. Her dedication and reliability make her a trusted and valued member of The Hive family.

JOSE JOVEN

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.

MARK AQUINO

Mark Aquino is our Transport Manager and Director of Fabrication. Dedicated to ensuring punctual arrivals at everyone's drama class.

With a remarkable sense of humor, he guarantees not only timely transportation but also a continuous stream of smiles. Mark's unfailing friendliness and readiness to assist prevail, regardless of the circumstances.

MARISON AQUINO

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.

GEORGINA YLAGAN

Our Aate Gina is an essential force behind the festival, working alongside Aate Marison with equal skill and dedication. She expertly manages props and costumes, ensuring every detail at The Hive is perfectly in place.

With a graceful presence and a highly creative spirit, Gina brings fresh ideas and thoughtful solutions to every project. Her warm nature and wonderful connection with the children make her truly special.

OUR AFFILIATION


Trinity College of London is a leading international exam board and independent education charity that has been providing assessments around
the world since 1877. With 850,000 candidates a year, in more than 60 countries worldwide,
Trinity qualifications are specifically designed to help students progress.

At the heart of Trinity's work is the belief that effective communicative and performance skills are life enhancing, know no boundaries, and should be within reach of all. For more details see www.trinitycollege.com



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