Mandala Theatre Nepal is hosting the third edition of the Nepal International Theatre Festival from 19th to 25th March 2025. Building on the tremendous success and widespread acclaim of the first two editions, Mandala is resolute in its commitment to organizing NITFest 2025. With the slogan “Theatre for Social Transformation: Light of Indigenous Wisdom,” NITFest 2025 is determined to celebrate cultural heritage, foster dialogue, and inspire change by bridging traditional knowledge with contemporary practices. The festival will highlight the stories, practices, and cultural knowledge of indigenous communities, ensuring they take center stage in theatrical narratives. Moreover, the festival will support global theater groups and artists coming together on a shared platform to explore their aesthetic expressions and solidarities for presenting powerful ideas and wisdom that have been in their communities for centuries.
A total of 13 play productions will be showcased during the festival. Artists from Nepal, India, China, Japan, Iran, Norway, Spain, Lithuania and Tunisia are participating in the festival with their performances. Artists from Germany, China, the UK, Scotland, and Nepal are conducting workshops in different forms and practices of theater. Selected theater productions and programs reflect vibrant indigenous knowledge of local communities from different regions of the world, as well as discussing cross-cutting issues such as gender, disability, etc. through their programs.
Furthermore, the festival will feature other allied events such as panel discussions, seminars, open-air performances, theater photo exhibitions, encouragement award ceremonies, cultural and artistic stalls, etc. One of the key highlights of 3rd Nepal International Theatre Festival is that the plays and programs are being extended to three different cities. Theatre artists and groups from Chitwan, Pokhara and Belbari are organizing independent theatre festivals where 8 plays from NITFest 2025 will be showcased.
