/ About / Founder's Life

Nidhi Dewan

Performance Performance

A Life on Stage.

Actor since 2016 • MA Theatre • Natyashastra Teacher • Trained Kathak Artist

Theatre is a discipline of deep devotion. Throughout my journey, I have had the profound honor of honing my craft under the guidance of visionary directors who shaped my understanding of the stage.

Directors Worked Under

Mr. Nizam Patel Mrs. Vibha Shrivastav Mrs. Niti Shrivastav Mr. Mukesh Sharma Mr. Nazir Qureshi Mr. Balendra Singh Mr. Rajesh Bhadoria Mr. Aseem Dubey Mr. Raam

Repertoire

The Father

August Strindberg (2017)

A naturalistic tragedy written in 1887. It explores the struggle between parents over the future of their child; resulting in the mother using her cunning manipulative skills to subdue and finally destroy the father.

Kanyadaan

Vijay Tendulkar

A powerful Marathi play that explores the failures of idealism and the deep-rooted caste divide in Indian society, centering on an inter-caste marriage that exposes the harsh realities behind progressive social experiments.

Madhyantar

Jaivardhan

A poignant drama exploring the complexities of modern relationships and the emotional distances that grow between married couples following sudden life crises.

Jinne Lahore Ni Vekhya

Asghar Wajahat

A story of the 1947 Partition. A Muslim family migrating from Lucknow is allotted a haveli in Lahore, discovering an old Hindu woman still living there, leading to a clash between religious fanaticism and deep human compassion.

Kaal Chakra

Jaywant Dalvi

A classic focusing on the terrible situation of the elderly, reflecting the pain when children disown them, yet ultimately leading to a positive solution for a brighter tomorrow.

Ek Tooti Hui Kursi

Ismail Choonara / Uma Jhunjhunwala

A symbolic play exploring existential themes, emotional attachments, and political satire, where three friends reunite to find a damaged chair, sparking a symbolic dispute.

Ratnavali

Anurag Ratna (Solo)

The story of the devoted wife of poet-saint Goswami Tulsidas. When Tulsidas crossed a flooded river out of desperate attachment to reach her, she delivered a profound rebuke that transformed his life.

Chutti

Sanjay Shrivastav

An evocative theatrical performance exploring distinct thematic elements through nuanced character portrayals.

The Masters Who Inspire

Konstantin Stanislavski (1863–1938)

An Actor Prepares, Building a Character, Creating a Role

He believed that true acting begins not with performance, but with truth. To him, theatre was never about pretending—it was about living honestly within imaginary circumstances. He transformed the world of acting by asking: “What would I do if I were this character?” His work inspired Method Acting, proving the greatest actor is the one who listens, understands, and lives every moment honestly.

Aristotle (384–322 BCE)

Poetics, Concept of Catharsis

The great Greek philosopher analyzed tragedy and explained how drama should be structured to create emotional impact. He introduced the concept of Catharsis, the emotional purification audiences experience through feelings of pity and fear.

Vsevolod Meyerhold (1874–1940)

Creator of Biomechanics

A pioneering Russian theatre director who rejected naturalistic acting. He created Biomechanics, a physical acting system where the actor’s body became the primary instrument of expression. He trained actors like athletes, mastering balance, rhythm, and precision.

Antonin Artaud (1896–1948)

The Theatre and Its Double, The Theatre of Cruelty

A French visionary theatre theorist who developed the Theatre of Cruelty. He believed theatre should shock audiences out of their comfort zones and awaken deep emotional and spiritual awareness, creating sensory experiences that reached beyond logic into the subconscious.

Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956)

Founder of Epic Theatre, The Threepenny Opera, Mother Courage

Brecht developed the Verfremdungseffekt or “Alienation Effect” to remind viewers they were watching a performance. His goal was social awareness and change, believing theatre should inspire people to question injustice and imagine a better world.

Edward Gordon Craig (1872–1966)

On the Art of the Theatre, Creator of the Über-marionette concept

He believed stage design should express the emotional and symbolic meaning of a play rather than simply imitate reality. His visual innovations permanently changed theatre design.

Michael Chekhov (1891–1955)

Creator of the Psychological Gesture Technique

Nephew of Anton Chekhov, he developed an acting technique centered on imagination rather than emotional memory. His method helps actors discover a character’s inner life through expressive physical movement.

Jerzy Grotowski (1933–1999)

Towards a Poor Theatre, Founder of Poor Theatre

He believed theatre did not require elaborate costumes or sets; the most important relationship was between actor and audience. He demanded extraordinary physical discipline, encouraging actors to reveal complete honesty on stage.

Peter Brook (1925–2022)

The Empty Space, The Mahabharata

Brook rejected unnecessary complexity and focused on clarity and genuine communication. His famous concept of the Empty Space showed that theatre can happen anywhere if an actor and an audience come together.

Augusto Boal (1931–2009)

Theatre of the Oppressed, Creator of Forum Theatre

He transformed audiences into active participants (“Spect-actors”), empowering ordinary people to suggest and perform solutions to social problems and fight injustice.

Bharata Muni

Author of Nāṭyaśāstra, Creator of the Rasa Theory

The foundational text of Indian theatre. He detailed principles of acting (Abhinaya), stagecraft, music, and the Navarasas (Nine Emotions). He believed theatre is a sacred art that educates, entertains, and uplifts society.

Bhartendu Harishchandra (1850–1885)

Founder of modern Hindi theatre, Andher Nagari

Celebrated as the Father of Modern Hindi Theatre. He introduced realism and nationalism into Hindi drama, using theatre as a medium for awakening public consciousness against colonial rule.

Jaishankar Prasad (1889–1937)

Skandagupta, Dhruvaswamini

One of India’s greatest Hindi playwrights. His historical dramas blended philosophy, poetry, nationalism, and deep psychological insight, elevating Hindi theatre into a respected literary tradition.

Badal Sircar (1925–2011)

Founder of Third Theatre, Evam Indrajit

Rejecting expensive auditoriums, he brought performances into parks and streets where ordinary people could participate. He used minimal props and direct interaction to create intimate performances that emphasized ideas over spectacle.