Artist and International Theater Festival of Kerala set designer Sujathana gives instructions on creating stage decor in Thrissur. | Photo credit: KK NAJEEB
With just a few days left for the curtain raiser, preparations for the International Theater Festival of Kerala (ITFoK) have entered the final phase. Organized by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, the festival will be held from January 25 to February 1.
For the past few months, backstage teams have been working around the clock on the academy’s campus, meticulously creating elaborate stage settings for the productions that will be presented at the festival.
This year’s ITFoK will offer 23 plays, three of which require particularly large and complex stage structures. The Armenian production of Dumpling was designed with a stage set inspired by an ancient balcony structure. Agarbathi, a play from Madhya Pradesh, requires a complex set that recreates both the factory and the living space. Meanwhile, the Assamese production of Khulang Burhi makes extensive use of bamboo structures and indigenous materials, strongly reflecting the depth of tribal culture.
ITFoK set designer and artist Sujathan emphasized the effort involved in such a large-scale stagecraft, saying that creating massive stage structures requires a careful balance of craftsmanship and technical-creative excellence. “This kind of work is only possible when engineering staff, carpenters and welders come together with a common sense of determination,” he said.
The importance of stage elements
He also emphasized the importance of stage elements in the theatre, noting that the stage setting and props are as important as the actors themselves and therefore require extreme care and precision in their construction.
ITFoK Technical Director Raji Prasad highlighted the challenges of sourcing materials for Assamese production. “Finding the specific type of bamboo and other indigenous tribal materials required by Khulang Burhi was particularly difficult,” he said.
Meanwhile, from Friday, foreign theater groups participating in the festival will start arriving at the academy. The first to arrive is the backstage crew of Romeo and Juliet from Denmark, whose performance is scheduled for the opening day.
A total of 23 theater companies, including nine international companies, will participate in this year’s ITFoK, bringing together a rich diversity of theater traditions from India and abroad.
Published – 21 Jan 2026 20:58 IST
