Theatre in Udaipur
Most of us associate Udaipur with its majestic palaces, romantic getaways, and serene natural beauty. But the city has a lot to offer in terms of art and culture. With a splendid historical background and a rich cultural heritage, Udaipur has a lot to offer in both traditional and modern art forms.
Music, art, and theatre is an integral part of the kingly city today, as it had been in the time of Rajput kings and princes. Udaipur theatre can be experienced at regular shows in City Palace, Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal, Bagore ki Haveli, and Shilpgram. These places are also known for the local art and theatre festivals held annually. If you love plays and are planning to visit Udaipur soon, read on to learn more about best upcoming theatre events in Udaipur.
Theatre Festivals in Udaipur
Theatre forms a major part of the cultural calendar of the city. You can enjoy Udaipur theatre shows, street plays, and creative drama while visiting the city. Natyansh Society of Dramatic and Performing Arts has been actively involved in promoting theatre in the city. The group organizes regular classes and workshops with veteran thespians throughout the year. They are the pioneering team behind Alfaaz, a unique theatre festival dedicated to women. The festival is extremely popular, with participants from all over the country. Events in the festival include full-length stage plays, outdoor performances, short play competitions, film festivals, and street plays. Other events also include art exhibitions, storytelling, slam poetry, documentary and film screening, on-the-spot painting competition, and online photography competition. If you are planning to visit Rajasthan this winter, make sure you check the dates for the upcoming Alfaaz festival in 2019.
When talking about theatre in Udaipur, one cannot miss out on Shilpagram. Located a little away from the city, it is a unique crafts village with a focus on local art and culture. Some of the initial editions of the Alfaaz festival was hosted there. The Shilpagram festival is one of the major events in the city, organised by the central government in the month of December. The 2018 chapter of the festival had over 600 performers and over 400 artists showcasing their art forms for over a week.
You can also enjoy the Udaipur Film Festival that takes place annually in the month of November or December in association with the Udaipur Film Society.
Traditional Music in Udaipur
You cannot miss out on the local art forms when exploring the theatre scene in Udaipur. Puppet shows from Rajasthan are famous all over the world. Accompanied by traditional music, you won’t have to travel far to watch them. You can find impromptu local shows at all the famous tourist spots in Udaipur. Local artists from Udaipur and other parts of Rajasthan present small skits at these places. You can also catch performances at Bhartiya Lok Kala Museum, where regular puppet shows and plays in Udaipur are held every evening.
When talking about local art forms, do check out the Rajasthani folk dances while visiting Udaipur. Each performance tells a story and is intricately composed with songs about Rajasthani royalty. You can watch these traditional dances and music shows at Bagore ki Haveli and Bhartiya Lok Kala Mandal. Regular performances are also held at Meera Kala Mandir.
