Watch all 2023 productions at a steep discount (scroll down to see the season)
Season 2023
January 28 – February 11 | Palo Alto
Funny Money
written by Ray Cooney
directed by Mukund Marathe
(in Hindi, with supertitles in English)
On his birthday, Himesh Parikh goes home by a local train, looking forward to the birthday dinner for which he and his wife have invited old friends. He gets off at Bandra Station and realizes that he has picked up someone else’s briefcase. Inside it, he finds 7 crore and 35 lakh rupees. What ensues is a hilarious romp of (deliberately) mistaken identities.
To buy tickets for FUNNY MONEY, click here.
April 22 – May 7 | Campbell
The Pillowman
written by Martin McDonagh
directed by Harish Agastya
(in English)
In The Pillowman, a writer living in a police state is interrogated regarding the gruesome content of his stories, and their similarity to strange child murders occurring in his city. Is this life imitating art or something more sinister? This Pulitzer-winning black comedy, widely regarded as one of the great plays of the last 25 years, examines the role of the artist in society and asks what price we should pay for freedom of expression.
adapted for the stage by Ritwik Verma and Anush Moorthy
directed by Anush Moorthy
(in Hindi, with supertitles in English)
Set in the times of Wajid Ali Shah, the last independently ruling Nawab of Awadh, Premchand’s classic 1924 story शतरंज के खिलाड़ी (The Chess Players) depicts a decadent aristocracy that is indifferent to its fate, and that of the country, even as the Nawab’s kingdom crumbles and the British move to annex it in 1856. Naatak brings the story to the stage with the moods of nineteenth century Lucknow, its costumes, its kathak and its music.
September 3 – October 1 | Palo Alto
Bombay Talkies
written and directed by Sujit Saraf
(a musical in Hindi, with supertitles in English)
A clapper-boy makes his way through the Hindi film industry between 1935 and 1975, from Devdas to Sholay, befriending stars – Saigal, Ashok Kumar, Raj Kapoor, Nargis, Madhubala, Dilip Kumar, Dev Anand, Rajesh Khanna and Amitabh Bachchan, and playback singers – Lata, Rafi, Mukesh and Kishore – while assisting in shoots and song sequences, serving as chauffeur, gateman, teaboy and confidante, and secretly shaping the industry that later came to be called Bollywood. Punctuated by well-known songs and lesser-known tidbits, Bombay Talkies is a sashay through the film industry in its golden years, capturing its glitz, glamour and insouciance, its soul-stirring music, its utter lack of insight, and its complete detachment from the world that sustains it. The play will be performed with live music and dance.
October 27 – November 5 | Los Altos/Campbell
The Mousetrap
written by Agatha Christie
directed by Manish Sabu
(in English)
As news spreads of a murder in the city, a group of seven strangers find themselves stuck in a remote village guesthouse. When a police officer arrives, the guests discover that the killer is in their midst… Agatha Christie’s The Mousetrap is the longest running play in the world, with its 28,915th performance taking place in November 2022.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: How do I choose my shows?
For each production in 2023, we will invite you to choose your show four weeks before the production opens.
Question 2: How do I choose my seats?
Once you have chosen your show, your name will be in the door list. Your seats will be assigned at the door in order of arrival.
Question 3: What if I cannot make it to a particular production?
Naatak passes are transferable. Contact tickets@naatak.org.
Question 4: Is there a cheaper way to watch a Naatak play?
Naatak passes offer the lowest possible prices for a Naatak play.
Question 5: What are VVIP, VIP and GENERAL seating categories?
This is the seating chart for Cubberley Theater. When we perform at other theaters, we will use equivalent seating charts.
