In loving memory of Jyoti & Hasmukh Baradi
"Beyond the Proscenium"
This year’s theme looks past the “stage as the only centre” and towards the wider ecosystem of theatre, its spaces, processes, people, and publics.
About the Festival
All About Natak Theatre Fest 2026 (Season 4) is a nine-day theatre festival and archival exhibition organised by the Theatre Media Centre (TMC–BUDRETI Trust), in collaboration with the Sangeet Natak Academy, Government of Gujarat, the Urban Management Centre (UMC) and the NATAK-BUDRETI trust.
Coinciding with World Theatre Day, the festival brings together:
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Live performances of Theatre and its allied Arts- Music and Dance
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Post-performance conversations with artists
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Skill-based workshops for students and practitioners
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A curated exhibition on the Evolution of Gujarati Theatre & Theatre Spaces, drawn from one of India’s most important theatre archives
Festival Curator:
We are honoured to have Shri M. K. Raina as the Festival Curator, celebrated theatre director, filmmaker, and actor. A National School of Drama alumnus under Ebrahim Alkazi, Shri Raina has directed over 200 plays and has been seminal in shaping India’s avant-garde theatre movement.
His association brings artistic and pedagogical depth to this edition, strengthening the festival’s role as both a public celebration and a space for learning.
Shri M. K. Raina
What to Expect
EVENING PERFORMANCES
Theatre performances by select groups across the week.
FREE WORKSHOPS
Led by eminent theatre personalities on dance, singing and more
CURATED EXHIBITION
Capturing the evolution of Gujarati theatre (Free Entry)
TICKETED MASTERCLASSES
Led by eminent theatre personalities (Limited Seats)
Three Immersive,
Three-day Masterclasses
Led by Theatre Stalwarts
Learn from the Masters
LIGHTING DESIGN
(21-23 March, 2026)
Led by Govind Yadav
An intensive exploration of lighting as a storytelling tool from design principles to execution.
DIRECTION
(24-26 March, 2026)
Led by M.K. Raina
A deep dive into the craft of direction - process, performance shaping, and theatrical vision.
COSTUME DESIGN
(27-29 March, 2026)
Led by Kriti Sharma
Understanding costume as character, culture, and narrative language within performance.
Please note that there are limited seats available. Registration is confirmed only upon payment.
Exhibition:
Hasmukh Baradi Theatre Archives
The festival exhibition will present rare materials from the Hasmukh Baradi Theatre Archives, costumes, headgear, props, posters, manuscripts, opera books, archival photographs, audio-visual recordings, and documentation of landmark productions.
Displayed at no cost by Theatre & Media Centre as co-host, the exhibition is presented with scholarly and curatorial integrity, making these materials accessible to the public while honouring their archival value.
Your Contribution is Valuable!
Contribute to the fest Instantly by donating any amount ₹ 1000/- onwards.
Become a Sponsor
Partner with a nationally respected cultural initiative during World Theatre Day celebrations.
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Support live performing arts and artists’ livelihoods
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Enable public access to rare theatre archives
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Contribute to arts education and cultural continuity
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Increase visibility during World Theatre Day week
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All contributions are eligible for 80G tax exemption and CSR funding
Why Sponsor?
