Theatre Lovers, Here Are 6 Theatre Groups Based In Chennai To Check Out!

Established in 1955, the Madras Players are the oldest English theatre group in India. It all began with a group of young enthusiasts who started as a play reading club at the British Council. In the early days, they mainly focussed on British and American plays, but later shifted to Indian works translated into English, featuring playwrights like Girish Karnad and Vijay Tendulkar. Nowadays, the group primarily emphasises major Indian themes and local playwrights, while still occasionally performing plays by foreign authors, including Shakespeare. Their script choices span various genres, reflecting their diverse interests and moods. Despite all members holding day jobs and facing financial constraints, they are committed to their craft and maintain a high standard of work. Nikhila Kesavan, a committee member, aptly describes their approach: 'Our sustenance is amateur, but our work is not.' Their preferred venue is the Museum Theatre in Egmore, but due to the pandemic, they have been performing at Alliance Française and the Asian School of Journalism. The Madras Players' mission revolves around celebrating Indian writing and fostering a love for theatre. To stay updated on their upcoming plays, you can follow them on Instagram.

In 1993, six individuals formed Masquerade, a performance arts group. They sought to express themselves amidst a polarised theatre scene and welcomed newcomers. Even after 30 years, they remain community-driven, offering opportunities to aspiring artists. Apart from theatrical plays, Masquerade does productions for children and teens. The group also does workshops to foster the growth of performers and technicians and value ongoing theatre literacy efforts, as they believe that well-informed, trained artists who understand theatre's history and evolution elevate the quality of nuanced art. Currently, they have launched "Know Your Theatre," a monthly series celebrating playwrights and practitioners worldwide who have made significant contributions to the development and enrichment of theatre arts. Masquerade has an impressive repertoire of past works, including classic Greek tragedies like Antigone, Electra, and Medea, as well as Western comedies such as Chapter Two and Alan Ayckbourn's Shorts. To stay updated with Masquerade, follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

In 2017, following a two-and-a-half year at Indianostrum, Podichery Vettri MV established Theatre Akku with a mission to present traditional and folk art forms to a wider and urban audience. Their repertoire includes three major performances: the first one is inspired by Therukoothu, the play ‘Adavu’ is about artists who are deprived of the stage to showcase their performance and are denied rightful respect and acclaim the second ‘Komaligal’ is an anthology series addressing women's suppression and oppression in society, and the third ‘Mayir’ focusses on the queer community and the life of a transman. Currently, they conduct workshops for both kids and adults that are held at IDAM in Kodambakkam. They are now preparing for their upcoming production centred around the lives of those from coastal areas. Theatre Akku is mostly a travelling troupe, performing in different locations. For updates on Theatre Akku, you can follow them on Instagram.

The renowned Theatre Nisha, founded by V. Balakrishnan in 2000, is dedicated to using theatre as a powerful tool for self-actualisation. With an impressive repertoire of over 130 plays in 23 years, they specialise in diverse productions ranging from mythology to modern works, including international and Indian playwrights. Drawing inspiration from the fundamental pillars of instinct, intuition, impulse, and imagination, Theatre Nisha creates theatrical productions and organises workshops. Additionally, Theatre Nisha has performed in-house scripts authored by V. Balakrishnan, including award-winning plays like 'Sordid' and 'God's Will'. Other notable productions include 'Arundhati', and Meera Sitaraman's 'The Cut'. Their performances take place at various venues such as Alliance Francaise, Medai, Spaces and Goethe Institute in Chennai, Ranga Shankara in Bangalore, as well as Natarani in Ahmedabad. These venues include prosceniums, amphitheatres, and black boxes, providing diverse settings for their theatrical presentations. To stay informed about their performances, follow Theatre Nisha on Instagram and their other socials. 

The Art Factory, founded by Aparna Rajhesh was born amidst the challenges of the COVID pandemic. A group of like-minded individuals came together to produce a single play over Zoom. However, their passion and dedication drove them to create five remarkable productions over the past three years. Their vision encompasses the promotion of all art forms and the provision of space and resources to nurture upcoming and passionate artists. With a mission of 'art for all'. For the future, the group plans to learn and improve by doing small plays and seeks mentorship from acclaimed theatre artists. The Art Factory recently presented 'Seasoned Souls', a monologue series featuring a collection of four captivating solo performances.  To stay informed about upcoming plays and performances, follow The Art Factory on their Instagram page.

In 2015, Theatre Marina (TM) was founded by R. Giridharan, Keerthi Mariappan, and Sri Arunkumar. This innovative theatre group focusses on producing plays with creative and unconventional interpretations. Under the leadership of R. Giridharan as Creative Director, the group has been crafting theatrical productions that leave an indelible mark on the minds and hearts of spectators. Since its inception, Theatre Marina has had an impressive portfolio of 12 distinctive productions and a staggering tally of over 100 shows. The troupe's versatility shines through its diverse repertoire, which spans genres like historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, monologue, and spoofs such as ‘UNDO’, which delves into uncomfortable questions surrounding events that defy logic and are shrouded in Dharma. Their creative prowess is a testament to their unwavering dedication to delivering unique and captivating experiences. Theatre Marina has performed at venues such as Alliance Française and Medai The Stage. Beyond merely entertaining, Theatre Marina is involved in community engagement and have partnered with the police to create informative skits about drug addiction awareness, specifically designed for school children. They have also hosted the TEN-ALLY-DRAMA, a short play competition at Medai. To keep up with Theatre Marina on Instagram and Facebook.