History of Theatre in Colonial Calcutta

In Bengal, theatre was a colonial import that had marginalised the indigenous art forms like the Jatra. It was however adopted by the Bengali bhadralok who wanted to gain legitimacy in the English circles. Later, it was this art form that played an important role in the Bengal renaissance, and during India's freedom struggle, the theatre also became an instrument for the expression of nationalist sentiment.

This walk will explore some of the prominent theatre spaces and halls in Kolkata⁠—some of which survive, others which have closed down⁠—and also the residence of a famous theatre personality as we try to understand the role played by the theatre in colonial Calcutta.

This guided tour is free