New Delhi: The three-day BRICS Theatre Festival 2026 commenced at the National School of Drama (NSD) in New Delhi on Monday, bringing together theatre practitioners, scholars, students and cultural representatives from nine BRICS member and partner countries.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture under India’s BRICS Presidency 2026, the festival is being held from October 12 to 14 under the theme ‘Shared Stories, Shared Futures’. It aims to promote cultural dialogue, artistic exchange and people-to-people connections through theatre.
The participating countries are India, Thailand, Indonesia, Russia, Iran, Vietnam, South Africa, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia.
Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest. The event was also attended by Secretary, Ministry of Culture, Vivek Aggarwal; Secretary (Economic Relations), Ministry of External Affairs, and India’s BRICS Sherpa for 2026, Sudhakar Dalela; and Director of the National School of Drama, Chittaranjan Tripathy. Ambassadors and heads of mission from participating countries were also present.
Addressing the gathering, Shekhawat highlighted the importance of culture in promoting mutual understanding and constructive dialogue among nations.
He said that while diplomacy enables countries to negotiate and economic cooperation supports prosperity, culture helps societies understand one another by creating connections that transcend political boundaries.
The Minister emphasised that the festival’s significance extends beyond the performing arts, providing a platform for countries with diverse histories, languages and traditions to strengthen cultural understanding.
The inaugural day featured the play Samudra Manthan, written by Asif Ali, with design, direction and music by Chittaranjan Tripathy. The production was staged at the Abhimanch Auditorium on the NSD premises.
The festival will feature performances by national theatre schools and leading theatre institutions from the participating countries. Russia is represented by two theatre groups, while India will present two theatre productions. The programme includes classical, contemporary and experimental theatre, showcasing diverse artistic traditions and creative expressions.
Performances will take place at venues across the national capital, including the NSD’s Abhimanch and Sammukh auditoriums, Kamani Auditorium, LTG Auditorium and Meghdoot Theatre. Tickets are available through BookMyShow at Rs 200 per performance.
Workshops to Promote Artistic Exchange
In addition to performances, the festival will organise interactive workshops and discussion sessions involving directors, actors and crew members. The sessions will cover artistic vision, acting methodologies, performance traditions and stagecraft, providing opportunities for audience interaction and professional exchange.
The initiative is expected to encourage intercultural learning, knowledge-sharing and long-term collaboration among theatre practitioners from participating countries.
India has assumed the BRICS Presidency for 2026 under the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability’, with a people-centric approach to strengthening cooperation among member nations.
The BRICS Culture Track focuses on collaboration in cultural and creative industries, the protection of cultural heritage, and the role of culture in climate resilience and sustainable development. The theatre festival complements these priorities by fostering artistic engagement and cultural dialogue.
The National School of Drama, an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Culture, is the nodal agency for organising the festival.
[DD News]