Theatre Festival: Opening & Two Shows

About the FestivalPLAYINTERPLAY is a theatre festival with a difference. It celebrates 50 years of the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, bringing together its theatre awardees and scholars to show their work, share their experiences, skills and learnings, and converse on matters of common interest.PLAYINTERPLAY presents plays that are new to Bengaluru. What is different, however, is that it looks back as well as forward, featuring a work of theatre that has been specially revived for the festival and readings of plays that are still to become the finished article.PLAYINTERPLAY does more: it forges connections between its constituent parts — performances, workshops, conversations and experience sharing — emphasising the interplay between thought, learning and practice.See the plays! Apply for the workshops! Join the conversations! Soak in the magic of theatre.--------------------------------------------------------------------------PROGRAMMEPlease be in your seats by 4:15 p.m.Opening Address - 4.30 p.m. – 5.00 p.mThe 2026 Inlaks Theatre Awardees’ Showcase - 5.15 p.m. – 6.15 p.m.Ek Mulaqat Manto Se - A Performance - 7.00 p.m. – 8.00 p.m. .--------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Inlaks Theatre Awardees’ Showcase Held every year since 2023, the Inlaks Theatre Showcase offers a platform for the recipients of the theatre opportunities of that particular year to present their work and connect with the Inlaks theatre alumni community. This year’s showcase, featuring the presentations of the three 2026 theatre awardees, has been directed by 2016 Inlaks theatre awardee Kiyomi Mehta.--------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Performance - Ek Mulaqat Manto Se Language: Hindi, UrduSaadat Hasan Manto is an Indo-Pakistani writer known for his irreverent and controversial writing. Hailed as one of Urdu's finest writers, he held up a mirror to society, especially in ugly times. The performance is based on Manto’s articles and explores his life and times, and the social changes he witnessed at the time of India’s Partition. Ashwath Bhatt plays Manto, who engages with the audience in trying to answer the larger question, “Why I write what I write”. The Manto that Ashwath plays, decodes the enigma and idiosyncrasies of Manto. Correlating his writing with the political climate of the time, this performance follows the writer as he contemplates his journey, changing mindsets, family life and poetry.CastManto: Ashwath BhattCrewLights: Niranjan JadhaoMakeup: Sudhir PalProduction: Hemank SoniCreative Producer: Maneesh VermaAbout the ArtistAshwath Bhatt is a Mumbai-based screen and stage artist, who has worked with acclaimed filmmakers and reputed theatre companies both in India and abroad. He has acted under the direction of various Indian and international theatre luminaries, and conducted workshops on various aspects of acting worldwide. He serves on the selection panel of LAMDA in India as well as for the Inlaks Theatre Awards, of which he is the co-creator. He teaches at various prestigious institutions in India and overseas. He is widely known for his work on the ‘Red Nose Clowning’ in India. In 2007, he established a nonprofit trust called the Theatre Garage Project. His work is guided by the idea of finding something in nothing. He recently directed the play Paladin based on the best-selling book When Breath Becomes Air by Dr. Paul Kalanithi.Photo Credits: Maneesh Verma--------------------------------------------------------------------------About the Artistic Director Anmol Vellani is the founder and former executive director of India Foundation for the Arts, the first independent philanthropic organisation in India devoted exclusively to supporting the arts. He is also the co-founder of Toto Funds the Arts, which nurtures, encourages and rewards new voices and emerging talent in the arts.Anmol did not, however, aspire to become a professional in the field of philanthropy. His early fascination was with the arts, especially theatre and music, and also philosophy, which he studied at the Universities of Poona, Oxford and Cambridge. He taught ethics, logic and the history of philosophy at Elphinstone College, Mumbai, in the 1970s.His writing and talks — on arts entrepreneurship, the creative economy, cultural policy, the role of grant-making foundations, culture and development, arts collaboration and the performing arts, for example — have reflected on the insights he has gleaned from his long engagement with the arts and philanthropy.Anmol has been associated with nearly 50 plays as a director, designer or actor. He has directed theatre productions in different languages and cities. His last two plays — Innocence (2024) and Apne Ghar Jaisa (2022) — have been lauded for their sharp and critical look at contemporary social and political realities in India.