Mumbai: Alchemist Live is bringing back the Delhi Theatre Festival (DTF) for its fifth season, featuring original live performances, notable casts, and classic stories.
This year, DTF will take place over three days – 20, 21, and 22 September – across four venues in Delhi NCR: Siri Fort Auditorium, Kamani Auditorium, OP Jindal Auditorium, and Orana Convention in Gurugram.
American Express returns as the title sponsor for the fifth year, reinforcing their partnership with Alchemist Live to offer audiences in Delhi NCR exceptional live theatre experiences.
Detailing more about the festival, American Express Banking Corp, India CEO and country manager Sanjay Khanna said, “We are thrilled to sponsor the Delhi Theatre Festival for the fifth consecutive year to bring an extraordinary experience to our Card Members. This collaboration underscores our commitment to offering exclusive and unforgettable cultural experiences. We believe this festival will provide a unique opportunity for our Card Members to immerse themselves in the vibrant world of theatre, creating memories that will last a lifetime.”
This year's stellar cast includes legendary performers like Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah, Shabana Azmi, Lillete Dubey, Vinay Pathak to name a few, who will light up the DTF stage.
Sharing his delight on the fifth season of the festival, Alchemist Live COO and co-founder Prabhu Tony said, "The energy and anticipation surrounding the Delhi Theatre Festival is truly inspiring. As we embark on our incredible fifth season, Alchemist Live is determined to raise the bar even higher. Within the realm of theatre, we are trying to introduce new formats every year and this year's festival promises to be a captivating exploration of theatrical diversity. We envision the Delhi Theatre Festival as a global hub for theatre enthusiasts, and we're honoured to provide a platform where playwrights, actors, and audiences can come together to celebrate the magic of live performance.
Set to establish new benchmarks in the theatre segment, the 2024 festival will incorporate the following captivating plays:
1 Old World by Naseeruddin Shah and Ratna Pathak Shah on 20 September at Siri Fort Auditorium (8 pm), 21 September at Siri Fort Auditorium (1 pm & 6 pm), and 22 September at Orana Conventions, Gurugram (7 pm)
2 Salaam Noni Appa by Lillete Dubey, Yateen Karyekar, Jayati Bhatia, Rishi Khurana, and Gillian Pinto on 21 September at Kamani Auditorium (3:30 pm & 7 pm)
3 Anything but Love by Mandira Bedi and Samir Soni on 20 September at Kamani Auditorium (8 pm)
4 Broken Images by Shabana Azmi on 21 September at Orana Convention, Gurugram (7 pm)
5 One on One Dhamaal by Anu Menon, Ajitesh Gupta, Gagandeep Riar, Rajit Kapur, Shikha Talsania, Sohrab Ardeshir, Sumeet Vyas, and Vrajesh Hirjee on September 21 at OP Jindal Auditorium (7 pm)
6 Jaya - A Rock Musical of the Mahabharata by Megan Murray, 2Blue, Vikrant Chaturvedi, Asif Ali Beg, Sherrin Varghese, Varun Narayan, and more on 22 September at Siri Fort Auditorium (4:30 pm & 8 pm)
7 What’s Done is Done by Vinay Pathak, Ranvir Shorey, Waris Ahmed, Chandrachoor Rai, Mantra, Radhika Mehrotra, Mansi Multani, Mallika Singh, Chakori Dwivedi, Munish Bhardwaj & Ravi Kalra on 22 September at OP Jindal Auditorium (7 pm)
‘’Delhi Theatre Festival has always held a special place in my heart. Performing for a Delhi audience is always an invigorating experience. Returning to Delhi to perform "Broken Images" after a couple of years fills me both with excitement and anxiety,’’ said Shabana Azmi.
Resonating with her, Rajat Kapoor added, “This is the third time we are collaborating with Delhi Theatre Festival. We have been there with 'nothing like Lear', and this time we are back at the festival with 'what's done is done', which is our adaptation of Shakespeare's Macbeth. A theatre festival like this is a wonderful idea - to work as a bridge between theatre practitioners and audience. More power to you”
Lillete Dubey, who’s retuning to festival said, “I'm thrilled to be part of the Delhi Theatre Festival again, especially in my hometown, Delhi, where I first performed over 50 years ago. This time, we're bringing two unique shows—Salaam Noni Appa and JAYA, a rock musical of the Mahabharata. I’m excited for Delhi audiences to experience these extraordinary performances and kudos to Alchemist Live, and American Express for making this festival a reality!”
DTF has become a cornerstone of Indian theatre in Delhi NCR since its inception. Each season has showcased a mesmerising curation of plays, electrifying performances by renowned actors, and a vibrant atmosphere that celebrates the magic of live theatre.
