A stage for Assamese theatre
The Rupkonwar Theatre Festival, organised by Srimanta Sankaradeva Kalakshetra Society since 2021, celebrates the remarkable contribution of Rupkonwar Jyotiprasad Agarwala to Assamese theatre and seeks to preserve and promote his dramatic legacy.
The 2023 edition was held from 19 to 22 January at the historic Jorhat Theatre, in collaboration with the Jorhat District Administration and Jorhat Theatre, featuring four acclaimed plays, including Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s Rupalim, directed by Abinash Sarma, along with two academic symposiums on Assamese theatre. In 2024, the festival was organised at Nalbari Natya Mandir from 15 to 17 March, presenting three evenings of theatrical performances and a seminar on the evolution of Assamese drama.
The 2025 edition, held from 15 to 21 August as part of the Parakrami Purbottar initiative, featured seven plays over seven days, highlighting the lives and sacrifices of unsung freedom fighters of Northeast India. Through theatrical performances, academic discussions and cultural collaboration, the festival continues to honour Jyotiprasad Agarwala’s artistic vision while encouraging the growth and appreciation of Assamese theatre.
At a glance
- 2021 – Festival first organised
- 4 days – Jorhat edition, 2023
- 7 plays – Festival programme, 2025