Bengaluru Theatre Festival Set to Debut in a Grand First Edition

Bengaluru, 13^th November 2024: After the resounding success of the Delhi Theatre Festival (DTF) across five seasons, Alchemist LIVE is proud to present the highly anticipated debut of the Bengaluru Theatre Festival (BTF). Set to redefine the theatre scene in Bengaluru, BTF promises a captivating experience of live performances, star-studded casts, and unforgettable storytelling.

The first edition of BTF will take place over three exciting days—6^th, 7^th& 8^th December at Good Shepherd Auditorium. Audiences can look forward to a handpicked selection of thought-provoking plays and fan favourites, featuring some of India’s finest actors.

Audiences can look forward to a handpicked selection of thought-provoking plays and fan favourites, featuring some of India’s finest actors. The list includes legends like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Pankaj Kapur, Lillete Dubey, and more, who will take the stage to deliver powerful performances that will resonate with audiences.

Art needs patrons, and as always American Express lives up to its legacy as the sponsor of the Delhi Theatre Festival by coming on board as the title sponsor of the Bengaluru Theatre Festival. This partnership with Alchemist Live underscores a mutual commitment to bringing high quality theatre experiences to audiences across India.

Sharing his excitement, Mr. Prabhu Tony, COO and co-founder of Alchemist LIVE, said, “The journey from Delhi to Bengaluru has been nothing short of incredible. Bengaluru has long been a city of culture and creativity, and we are thrilled to bring a festival that will showcase the very best of Indian theatre. This first edition of BTF will offer a diverse and compelling mix of plays that will inspire, entertain, and connect with theatre enthusiasts.”

American Express presents Bengaluru Theatre Festival marks the beginning of a new chapter in Bengaluru’s theatre culture, bringing together iconic talent and compelling stories for an audience ready to embrace the magic of live performance. With an outstanding line up, BTF is poised to become a cornerstone of Bengaluru’s cultural calendar.

Set to establish new benchmarks in the theatre segment, the 2024 festival will incorporate the following captivating plays:

• Dopehri by Pankaj Kapur on 6^th December – 8 P M at Good Shepherd Auditorium
• Old World by Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah on 7^th December – 7:30 PM & 8^th December – 12 PM at Good Shepherd Auditorium
• Salaam Noni Appa by Lillete Dubey, Yateen Karyekar, Jayati Bhatia, Rishi Khurana, and Gillian Pinto on 8^th December – 8 PM at Good Shepherd Auditorium

“Dopehri is a story set in the streets of Lucknow where sits the Haveli of an old, lonely Woman Amma Bi.”

Dopehri is a novella written by me that I render on stage, with the help of lights and music.  The story transports the people through Amma Bi’s journey from loneliness to self-discovery. After being part of the Delhi Theatre Festival, I am happy to see this initiative in Bengaluru and am looking forward to sharing this journey again with my audiences at the inaugural Bengaluru Theatre Festival, said Pankaj Kapur.

Adding to it, Lillete Dubey said “We are delighted and excited to be part of DTF’s wonderful new initiative to expand their very prestigious Delhi Theatre festival to other cities! They have built a great brand that has been bringing quality theatre to Delhi over the last few years and we have been proud to be a part of that. Now we are delighted to be associated with them once again as they present their first edition of the Bengaluru Theatre Festival for the first time in a culturally rich city that loves the Arts! Looking forward to seeing you all at our much loved play Twinkle Khanna’s ‘Salaam Noni Appa’ on 8 Dec at the Good Shepherd auditorium!”