Munish Sood
Mandi
Five-day National Theatre Festival to bring diverse theatrical voices to Himachal from October 2; five acclaimed productions to be staged at Shakuntalam Theatre with free entry
A quiet village on the outskirts of Mandi is set to witness a remarkable convergence of India’s theatre traditions as artists and theatre groups from different parts of the country come together for a five-day National Theatre Festival–2026 at Satohal from October 2 to 6.
The festival, being organised by the Himachal Cultural Research Forum and Theatre Repertory, Mandi, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, will transform the Shakuntalam Theatre at Satohal into a national platform for theatrical expression, bringing productions from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh before audiences.
For five consecutive evenings, beginning at 6.30 pm, the festival will present five plays spanning social drama, literature, mythology and human relationships. In a significant initiative to make theatre accessible to a wider audience, entry to all performances will be free.
The festival opens on October 2 with ‘Gaj, Foot, Inch’, written by noted playwright K.P. Saxena and directed by Mukesh Sharma. The production will be presented by the Samvad Theatre Group.
On October 3, the stage will host ‘Ek Inspector Se Mulaqat’, based on J.B. Priestley’s celebrated play An Inspector Calls. Adapted by Surendra Sharma and his associate and directed by Sharad Sharma, the production will be presented by Abhinav Rangmandal, Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh.
The October 4 presentation will be ‘Vyaktigat’, written by Lakshmi Narayan Lal. Directed by Vandana Vashishth, the play will be presented by Rang Virasat, Delhi, adding a major metropolitan theatre group to the festival’s line-up.
The festival will take a turn towards Indian mythology and the inner world of its characters on October 5 with ‘Gandhari’, a production centred on the complex and emotionally charged character from the Mahabharata. Written by Jayvardhan and directed by Ashish Shrivastava, the play will be staged by Chetna Rang Samuh, Bhopal.
The festival will conclude on October 6 with ‘Raseedee Ticket’, based on the celebrated literary work of Amrita Pritam. The production will be presented by the Himachal Cultural Research Forum and Theatre Repertory.
Beyond the five productions, the festival seeks to underline the role of theatre as a meeting ground for literature, social concerns, cultural traditions and human experiences. Bringing theatre groups from different regions to a relatively small venue in Satohal also reflects an effort to take serious theatre beyond conventional urban cultural centres and connect it directly with local audiences.
The organisers have invited theatre enthusiasts, writers, artists, students and the general public to attend the performances and experience productions representing different theatrical traditions.
With five days, five productions and theatre groups from across the country, Satohal is poised to become a focal point of India’s theatre calendar in Himachal Pradesh this week.
