At India Habitat Centre, a festival where life, memory and loss take centre stage

The India Habitat Centre announced that its annual India Habitat Theatre Festival will return for a ten‑day run from September 18 to 27, 2026, featuring a mix of nine mainstage productions and three contemporary pieces across Hindi, English, Tamil and Punjabi. Festival director Prof Dr K G Suresh highlighted the season’s focus on life, death and the spaces in between, calling it the most humane edition to date. Notable entries include Akash Khurana’s “The Tragedy of Ham MacLear,” which explores a Shakespeare veteran’s battle with dementia, and Sooraj Nambiar’s adaptation of the Tamil epic “Cilappatikaram” through Kutiyattam techniques.

The schedule lists ten days of performances at the Stein Auditorium, with specific dates such as the September 23 showing of “The Tragedy of Ham MacLear.” Other highlighted works are “Bhasabharatam” by Piyal Bhattacharya, “Breast of Luck,” “Amb Da Boota,” “The Queen,” and three additional shows titled “Maaye Ni Meri Akh Lag Gaya,” “Home in a Suitcase,” and “Hindi Medium Tight.” Curator Syed Shadab Hussain emphasized a deliberate blend of diverse stories, languages, theatrical forms and perspectives to reflect contemporary theatre practice.

The festival’s conception draws on personal narratives, including director Verma’s recollection of a neurodivergent father‑son story he first encountered at the National School of Drama, inspired by Israeli actor Itzik Weingarten. By foregrounding themes of neurodivergence and memory loss, the event aims to broaden audience empathy and spotlight under‑represented experiences within Indian theatre. Organisers anticipate that the varied program will attract a wide cross‑section of theatre‑goers and stimulate dialogue on mental health and cultural heritage.