Leh, July 01: The inaugural Summer Theatre Festival, a collaborative effort by the National School of Drama (NSD), the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), and the Central Institute of Buddhist Studies (CIBS), concluded successfully with enthusiastic participation and positive feedback from attendees. Hosted at the Nagarjuna Auditorium, CIBS, Choglamsar, the festival featured an impressive lineup of five plays performed by the NSD Repertory Company, captivating audiences over a five-day period.
Initiated by Festival Director Sonam Stobgais of NSD, the event made history as the first-ever theatre festival in Ladakh. The festival marked a significant cultural milestone for the region, bringing the vibrant world of theatre to the Ladakhi audience.
The NSD and LAHDC collaboration received full support, demonstrating a commitment to promoting theatre in the region, specifically Theatre in Education. This partnership followed a successful month-long residential theatre workshop organized by LAHDC in 2022 in collaboration with NSD. Chief Executive Councillor Tashi Gyalson has been a staunch supporter of such initiatives and plans to further encourage theatre in Leh.
The closing ceremony of the festival was graced by several dignitaries, including NSD Director Chittaranjan Tripathi, Executive Councillor Stanzin Chosphel, Repertory Chief Rajesh Singh, and CIBS Vice Chancellor Rajesh Ranjan. Their presence underscored the importance of the festival and the collective effort to foster cultural enrichment in Ladakh.
As the curtains fell on this landmark event, the festival’s success set a promising precedent for future cultural endeavors in the region. NSD and LAHDC are already planning to further their collaboration, aiming to establish theatre as a cornerstone of educational and cultural development in Leh. The enthusiastic response from the local community has reaffirmed the belief that theatre has a vibrant future in Ladakh.
The success of the Summer Theatre Festival has set a promising precedent for future cultural events in the region, with plans already underway to continue promoting theatre in Leh. The festival not only highlighted the talent and creativity of the participants but also strengthened the cultural fabric of Ladakh, leaving a lasting impact on the community.
