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Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) is the city’s oldest and most widely respected theatre group, committed to creating quality, non-commercial theatre that is accessible to everyone.
Date: Saturday, 31st JanTime: 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM Venue: Bangalore International Centre, Domlur
Date: Saturday, 7th Feb 2025 & Sunday, 8th Feb 2025Time: 3:00 PM & 7:00 PMVenue: Jagriti Theatre
A charming romantic comedy about love, marriage, and finding balance—told with warmth, wit, and heart.
A powerful theatrical exploration of India’s revolutionary modern artist, tracing her journey from Europe to India.
An immersive, hands-on workshop for aspiring directors to explore storytelling, planning, and the craft of directing theatre.
Bangalore Little Theatre (BLT) is Bengaluru’s oldest and most widely respected theatre group, known for its powerful storytelling, diverse productions, and vibrant community spirit. Founded in 1960, BLT has built an enduring legacy at the heart of the city’s cultural landscape, bringing together theatre lovers across generations. The group’s mission is to foster creativity, nurture new talent, and stage performances that challenge, entertain, and inspire.
Each year, BLT runs an extensive calendar of plays ranging from innovative adaptations of classical works to bold contemporary theatre. Its roster includes both professional actors and passionate amateurs, working together to create unforgettable performances for audiences of all ages. Beyond the stage, BLT conducts workshops, children’s theatre programs, and play development initiatives, constantly expanding its reach and impact.
With a commitment to excellence and inclusivity, BLT offers a unique environment where tradition meets experimentation. From family-friendly productions and educational outreach to thought-provoking original scripts, the group continues to set new standards for Bangalore’s performing arts scene. BLT’s dedication to bringing theatre into the lives of as many people as possible has made it a cultural institution and a trusted bridge between diverse communities.
Vitasta & BLT presents three volumes of exquisite plays with Vijay Padaki a Founder-Trustee of BLT and the person behind the New Play Development program is the Series Editor
This collection of books forms the first three volumes of BLT’s long list of plays to be published as part of its dissemination and outreach initiative on the occasion of its 60th year of entertaining theatre lovers with quality performances.
Comprises English translations of an adaptation of the Sanskrit Classic Mrichhakatika, the Tamil Classic Silappadikaram, an adaptation of Smashana Kurukshetra by Kuvempu in Kannada, and Chomana Dudi by Shivaram Karanth.
…includes original scripts by BLT. The Prophet and the Poet is based on the historically significant exchanges between Mahatma Gandhi and Rabindranath Tagore. Tiger! Tiger! is based on a play by Dina Mehta on the life of Tipu Sultan. Finding Ananda was commissioned by the Ministry of Culture to celebrate the 150th birth anniversary year of Swami Vivekananda. Monsters in the Dark is based on the Pulitzer Prize book The Emperor of All Maladies by Siddhartha Mukherjee. And Einstein’s Dreams is an original adaptation for the stage of Alan Lighman’s novel.
…includes four plays – The Ungrateful Man, a tale from the Panchatantra; The Magic Drum, a collection of stories from the book by the same title by Sudha Murty; Ali Oh Baba, a retelling of the tale from the 1001 Arabian Nights; and The Court Jester, the tales of Tenali Rama.
Vitasta & BLT presents three volumes of exquisite plays with Vijay Padaki a Founder-Trustee of BLT and the person behind the New Play Development program is the Series Editor
This collection of books forms the first three volumes of BLT’s long list of plays to be published as part of its dissemination and outreach initiative on the occasion of its 60th year of entertaining theatre lovers with quality performances.
4 Classics on the Indian Stage brings together English translations of four iconic Indian works adapted for performance by Bangalore Little Theatre: the Sanskrit classic Mrichhakatika, the Tamil epic Silappadikaram, and Kannada masterpieces Smashana Kurukshetra (Kuvempu) and Chomana Dudi (Shivarama Karanth).
The History of Ideas gathers BLT’s original biographical and idea‑driven plays: Gandhi and Tagore in The Prophet and the Poet, Tipu Sultan in Tiger! Tiger!, Swami Vivekananda in Finding Ananda, the story of cancer in Monsters in the Dark, and Einstein’s early years in Einstein’s Dreams—theatre that makes big ideas vividly human.
Children’s Theatre – Programme of New Plays showcases BLT’s long-running work with schools and young audiences, uniting new play development and training emerging directors. The volume features four stage-ready scripts for children: The Ungrateful Man (Panchatantra), The Magic Drum (Sudha Murty), Ali Oh Baba (1001 Arabian Nights), and The Court Jester (Tenali Rama).
Footprints and Other Plays collects Vijay Padaki’s plays from 1986–2002, exploring how form and content shape each other. Rooted in real-life case studies from his work as a psychologist, these scripts probe the human capacity to question, resist, and reimagine the “given”; the title play, Footprints, daringly asks if humanity itself might be Nature’s mistake.
Mandap and Other Plays spans two phases of Vijay Padaki’s writing, from rural social‑development work to urban “Tales from the City.” Across Mandap, the city double-bills, and the one-act Second Shift Muster, these plays confront human rights, social justice, and everyday violence, revealing hidden occupations and lives in rapidly changing times.
Salt Licks and Other Plays gathers Vijay Padaki’s early plays (1970s–90s) about India’s East–West tug-of-war and Bangalore’s post‑Raj hangovers. From Empire‑obsessed elders to America‑bound youngsters and the poignant Evening Shadows adaptation, these stories gently question aspiration, nostalgia, and what it really means to “go West to rediscover the East.”
Short Plays and Sketches champions the “short form” on stage—where strong ideas don’t get stretched thin. This collection of compact plays and theatrical sketches explores how much can be said with tight writing, minimal duration, and inventive staging, including Ring‑a‑ling, performed entirely without spoken dialogue, using only movement and mobile phone ringtones.
More Children’s Theatre continues BLT’s long-running programme for schools and young audiences, showcasing five plays developed between 1966 and 2021. Building on Volume 3, this collection—including the acclaimed A Bellyful of Paradise—treats children as thoughtful viewers, touring urban and rural schools with stories that challenge, engage, and respect their intelligence.
Plays in Education introduces Bangalore Little Theatre’s Theatre‑in‑Education (TIE) work, where drama becomes a hands‑on learning tool rather than just performance. Aligned with child‑centred, experiential education, this volume focuses on environment and sustainability, and includes classroom-ready short plays based on folk tales from across India to enrich school curricula through theatre.
Tribute Plays emerges from BLT’s long-running Summer Project on Theatre (SPOT), which trains actors while deepening theatre appreciation. This volume offers ensemble-friendly scripts that celebrate great writers through scenes from their lives and works, including Federico García Lorca, Eugène Ionesco, Molière, August Strindberg, and Rabindranath Tagore—adaptable for workshops, festivals, and tribute performances.
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We are committed to the promotion of theatre and performing arts. We celebrated our Golden Jubilee last year. In the 58 years since our inception, BLT has produced over 200 plays, pioneered systematic training in the theatre, initiated play development as a serious pursuit (launching several Bangaloreans as playwrights), reached out to the community in a wide variety of ways, and built strong bridges with the regional language theatres.
Bangalore Little Theatre Foundation is registered as a Charitable Trust with a non-profit status.
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