Chennai Embarks on a Week-Long Celebration of Performing Arts
The vibrant performing arts community of Chennai has united to launch the inaugural Community Festival 2025, a significant eight-day event dedicated to celebrating theatre, fostering dialogue, and encouraging shared discovery. The festival is scheduled to run from November 7 to November 14 at the esteemed venue, Medai, The Stage in Alwarpet.
A Festival Built on Curiosity, Collaboration, and Courage
Curated by renowned theatre practitioner Craig Lobo, the festival's foundation rests on three core principles: curiosity, collaboration, and courage. The primary aim is to establish an open and reflective space where both artists and audiences can come together to explore the intricacies of the theatrical craft. Craig emphasizes that this event goes beyond mere performances. It is about the meaningful conversations that unfold afterwards, creating a dialogue between directors, actors, technicians, and the audience about the shared experience.
Intimate Performances and Post-Show Dialogues
The festival program is designed to be engaging and thought-provoking. Each of the three specially curated evenings will feature an intimate performance, followed by a post-show dialogue that is intended to spark discussion and personal reflection. The impressive lineup includes a diverse range of acts such as improv showcases, satirical sketches, interactive theatre, and physical comedy. These will be presented by acclaimed groups including Theatre Nisha, Kael Theatre, and Koothadi Collectives.
As this is the first edition of the festival, the organizers have intentionally kept the scale intimate. The focus is on creating an inclusive and honest atmosphere to gauge Chennai's readiness to build a sustainable culture of open dialogue surrounding the arts. This pioneering initiative promises to be a milestone for the city's cultural landscape.
