Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Ratna Pathak Shah and Lillete Dubey lead the first edition of the Hyderabad Theatre Festival at Shilpakala Vedika

The three-day festival on 12, 13 and 14 December features Ismat Apa Ke Naam, Autobiography and Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai at Shilpakala Vedika.

The Hyderabad Theatre Festival opens its first season next month, bringing some of India’s most respected stage actors and landmark productions to the city. After five seasons of the Delhi Theatre Festival and a strong debut for the Bengaluru Theatre Festival last year, Alchemist Live now introduces the Hyderabad chapter, expanding its theatre format to another cultural centre.
The festival will run on 12, 13 and 14 December at Shilpakala Vedika, presenting a curated lineup led by Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Ratna Pathak Shah, Lillete Dubey and other noted performers. Audiences will have the chance to watch celebrated plays that have travelled across India, including works that hold a long legacy in contemporary theatre.

American Express continues its association with Alchemist Live as the Title Sponsor for the Delhi, Bengaluru and Hyderabad Theatre Festivals. Card members receive a five-day presale window before public ticketing begins, along with ongoing benefits on selected seats. Constella by Speed Infra joins as the Associate Sponsor for this inaugural edition.
Sharing his thoughts on the launch, Mr Prabhu Tony, CEO and Co-Founder of Alchemist Live, said the Hyderabad edition adds a new chapter to the organisation’s theatre journey. He noted that the city has always nurtured a strong relationship with art and performance and added that hosting performers such as Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher, Ratna Pathak Shah and Lillete Dubey makes the festival a meaningful beginning for audiences in the region.

Reflecting on the return of one of his most widely performed works, Naseeruddin Shah said that staging Ismat Apa Ke Naam continues to feel like revisiting a classic that remains relevant to every new audience. He expressed his interest in seeing how Hyderabad responds to the play during the first season of the festival.
The festival builds on the momentum created by the Delhi and Bengaluru Theatre Festivals, which together have welcomed more than sixty thousand theatregoers across their seasons. With Hyderabad’s long cultural links, organisers expect the new edition to draw a similar response and help position the city as a consistent stop for major theatre productions.

Anupam Kher, who will present Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai on the closing day, said his recent performance at the Delhi Theatre Festival was among the most memorable of his career. He added that he looks forward to bringing the play to Hyderabad and connecting with an audience known for its interest in performance and storytelling.
Ratna Pathak Shah called the festival a timely addition to Hyderabad’s cultural calendar and said the transition from Delhi and Bengaluru to a new city is a natural progression for a format that has grown steadily each year.

HTF Season 1 features three productions across its three days.
Ismat Apa Ke Naam, performed by Naseeruddin Shah, Ratna Pathak Shah and Heeba Shah, will open the festival on 12 and 13 December.
Autobiography, starring Lillete Dubey, Denzil Smith and Suchitra Pillai, will hold its Hyderabad premiere on 13 December.
Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai, performed by Anupam Kher, will close the season on 14 December.

Lillete Dubey shared that presenting Autobiography in Hyderabad for the first time is a meaningful way to begin the festival’s journey. She added that her earlier association with Alchemist Live in Delhi and Bengaluru has shown her the value they place on creating an artist-friendly space for theatre.
Tickets for the Hyderabad Theatre Festival are now available exclusively on BookMyShow, with further updates, artist information and programme details accessible through the official festival handle HyderabadTheatreFestival.

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