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The theatre festivals in India are a big part of India’s culture as they offer tourists a unique glimpse into the country’s rich heritage through storytelling performances. These festivals feature different styles, such as Sanskrit plays and contemporary adaptations, which tourists can explore nationwide. Tourists can experience cultural diversity through music, dance, costumes, and the Indian narratives offered at the theatre festivals, hence getting a better understanding of the local way of life. Most of the popular festivals of India promote cultural exchange by inviting international playwrights and performers, creating a major global appeal.
10 Theatre Festivals In India
There are several important festivals that tourists can explore to learn about the local culture. Here is a list of 10 theatre festivals in India.
1. Bharat Rang Mahotsav
Photo: Ramesh Lalwani / Wikimedia Commons
Bharat Rang Mahotsav is one of India’s cultural festivals. It is held yearly and showcases the work of both Indian and international theatre practitioners. This festival offers diverse productions worldwide, including Italy, Russia, and Germany, making it an ideal destination for theatre enthusiasts seeking unique experiences. Bharat Rang Mahotsav festivals are celebrated in multiple cities in India and internationally in countries like Sri Lanka and Nepal. Tourists attending this festival will experience one of the themes offered each year, including Vande Bharangam, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam, One Expression, and Supreme Creation.
Location: Bahawalpur House, Bhagwandas Road, New Delhi
Things To Do: Participating in book discussions and launches, attending folk performances
2. Prithvi Theatre Festival
Photo: Ministry of Information and Broadcasting / Wikimedia Commons / Image For Representation Only
Prithvi Theatre Festival is one of the popular festivals of India, a festival celebrating the legacy of Prithvi Theatre, a company owned by the infamous Kapoor family. While attending this festival, tourists can witness various performances, including music concerts, plays, panel discussions, and dance recitals, all catering to a wide range of audiences. Additionally, tourists can get the opportunity to see Bollywood actors and directors, as the theatre features appearances of prominent figures from the film industry.
Location: 20, Janki Kutir, Juhu Church Road, Mumbai, Maharashtra
Things To Do: Participating in workshops and seminars
3. Jairangam – Jaipur Theatre Festival
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Jairangam is one of the theatre festivals that provides a mix of heritage, art, and local touches through national and regional performances. Tourists attending this festival can learn about the different cultures of India through the stories showcased, which depict different communities in the country. This festival is not only an attraction to tourists but also to popular theatre groups and personalities. Some of the major forts and palaces serve as venues for some Jairangam performances, adding a unique theatre experience to tourists.
Location: Jawahar Kala Kendra in Jaipur, Rajasthan
Things To Do: Attending diverse plays, witnessing Nukkad Nataks
4. Nandikar’s National Theatre Festival
Photo: HolgersFotografie / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
Nandikar’s National Theatre Festival is one of the famous festivals of India that offers plays of traditional Indian forms and contemporary and experimental productions, ideal for tourists to have a diverse experience. The festival also includes a global perspective on contemporary theatre through the performances of some theatre groups outside India. Tourists attending the Nandikar’s National Theatre Festival can be exposed to unique and new practices and performance styles, which is ideal for theatre enthusiasts.
Location: The Academy of Fine Arts in Kolkata
Things To Do: Attending workshops, Visiting exhibitions
5. Thespo Youth Theatre Festival
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Thespo Youth Theatre Festival is one of the unique festivals of India offering young talented Indians an opportunity to showcase their art. It is an ideal festival for tourists to witness the future of theatre performances and interact with already-established theatre practitioners. Some of the performances tourists can watch include platform performances, full-length plays, devised performances, and play readings. Additionally, tourists attending the festival can gain knowledge of the ever-evolving trends of Indian performing arts.
Location: Prithvi Theatre, Mumbai
Things To Do: Attending workshops, attending site-specific performances
6. Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival
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Qadir Ali Baig Theatre Festival is one of the important festivals of India that celebrates the legacy of Qadir Ali Baig, who was a popular theatre personality. The festival offers several plays, including contemporary and traditional productions, making it an ideal destination for diverse theatre interests. Tourists attending the festival can get the opportunity to see renowned personalities such as directors, playwrights, Indian actors, and international actors, as the festival is a popular attraction to many theatre enthusiasts.
Location: Taramati Baradari Cultural Complex in Hyderabad
Things To Do: Attending workshops, watching classical theatre
7. Serendipity Arts Festival
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Serendipity Arts Festival is one of the famous festivals of India that offers a mix of theatre and other art forms. It incorporates visual arts, music concerts, and film screenings into the theatre performances, hence offering a diverse and unique experience to tourists. The Serendipity Arts Festival is held in several spaces, including open-air locations, art galleries, and historical buildings, making it an ideal festival for tourists seeking different theatre settings.
Location: Panjim, Goa
Things To Do: Attending workshops, engaging in post-show discussions, exploring experimental theatre
8. Kala Ghoda Arts Festival
Photo: Pratishkhedekar / Wikimedia Commons
Kala Ghoda Arts Festival is one of the cultural festivals of India that offers theme-based performances annually, which provide a unique insight into art and culture in the country. The festival is free for anyone to attend and features outdoor sculptures, art installations, and digital art, making it ideal for tourists to have extensive experiences. While attending the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, tourists can participate in heritage walks and excursions on the history bus, which connects ancient and modern times.
Location: Kala Ghoda district, South Mumbai
Things To Do: Exploring the Nuance theatre, enjoying music at nearby bars, sampling the local cuisines
9. Kalidas Festival
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Kalidas Festival is one of the theatre festivals in India that celebrates the popular Sanskrit poet Kalidasa. It is a major tourist attraction as it offers diverse performances of music, dance, and drama based on Kalidasa’s work, hence offering a unique theatre experience for tourists attending the festival. Tourists attending the Kalidasa Festival can witness productions based on poems like Meghaduta and plays like Shakuntala. The Kalidasa Festival is a hub that brings performers and popular artists from all over India who showcase high-quality music, dance, and drama productions.
Location: Ramtek near Nagpur
Things To Do: Exploring the theatre workshops, exploring exhibitions, attending panel discussions
10. Guwahati Theatre Festival
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Guwahati Theatre Festival is one of the popular festivals of India that features a wide range of plays from various regions in the country, making it an ideal festival for tourists seeking diverse experiences. This festival provides a unique mix of national and regional performances as it features local Assamese theatre groups and popular national troupes. Tourists attending the Guwahati Theatre Festival can learn about the different playwriting techniques, stage designs, and acting styles, which is quite ideal for theatre enthusiasts.
Location: Guwahati, Assam
Things To Do: Witnessing open-air performances, exploring theatre workshops, sampling the Assamese cuisines
The theatre festivals in India provide the perfect opportunities for tourists to learn about the country’s diverse culture and enjoy performances from new talents and renowned theatre practitioners. They are the ideal festivals for theatre enthusiasts seeking unique and memorable experiences. Plan a trip with TripXL and witness the local way of life during the festivals of India.
Cover Photo: StockSnap / Pixabay / Image For Representation Only
