The Mandala Theater in Thapagaun seemed to be standing quietly after the recent performance of ‘Bahadurpur’s Legend’. However, the actors in the theater courtyard were not quiet. Where did they have the leisure? The play ‘Bahuriya’, which was blooming in the theater’s creative womb, was preparing to land on the stage. Inside the theater, a group of characters was busy creating an imaginary world.

At this time, neither the courtyard of Mandala is relaxed, nor the hall of Shilpi Theater . New stories were sprouting inside the theaters standing in Kathmandu as usual .

There was a moment a decade ago, when the building of the Arohan Gurukul in Baneshwor was collapsing, the theater artists who were sheltering under its umbrella were desperate . Their hearts were collapsing along with the ruined building . As the house where they had nurtured their dreams was collapsing, many had an incomprehensible question in their minds, ‘Where to go now?’

But, it was not impossible to collapse . One Gurukul collapsed . However, many faces raised by the Gurukul went out in search of new opportunities and places . The theater artists who left in this way built new theaters . Not only did theaters grow one after another, the plays also increased in quality . Theater artists were added . New generations were ready. In this decade, even the old audience of the play witnessed all these ups and downs.

The Mandala Theater, which was started in Anamnagar with a new hustle and bustle a decade ago, also collapsed five years ago. Actor Vijay Baral, who spent his days and nights in the Mandala, witnessed the time of its construction and demolition. When the Mandala was shifted from a small ‘space’ to Thapagaun, the area of ​​the Mandala expanded. Vijay’s happiness and dreams also spread. ‘This too will collapse in the next five years. After it collapses, it will be rebuilt. But our dreams will never collapse,’ says Vijay, recalling the days when he witnessed the ups and downs.

The fact that different plays continue to be performed and new audiences are added shows the dynamics of the playhouses. The audience does not go to these houses just for entertainment, they want to connect directly with the characters. They want to feel the cultural and artistic beauty. They want to communicate with society in a different way.

One of the oldest theaters in the city, the Pronoun Theater, is a witness to the rich history of theater. If you dig into the 44-year history of Pronoun, you will find many stories of dreams and dreamers.

Theater artist Ashesh Malla still remembers the early days of rehearsing plays by renting a room on Putalisadak. It has been only 9 years since the Pronoun Theater got its own building. Since then, Ashesh feels that the audience has also increased. ‘Now, audiences of every generation come to watch plays.’ This is a positive aspect. I see the future of theater even more beautiful,’ he says, assessing the coming days. Ashesh has a recent experience of foreigners being surprised when they see a single play running in a theater for a month. ‘But, the state has not paid attention to the city where drama is developing well,’ he adds.

The theaters seem to be running. The internal pain is different. He claims that this journey was possible only because of the volunteer spirit of the theater artists. ‘No matter how difficult it is, the joy that comes after staging a play is different. That cannot be bought with money,’ he says.

Mandala Theatre is also a regular place for debate and discussion for theater artists and audiences. Mandala has not only a hall, but also a restaurant, where people can communicate peacefully. They can spend time reading books in the library. Mandala is also regularly conducting classes and a one-year lab for students. ‘In Mandala, 10 plays are performed in 12 months. Even if there is a loss, the play is performed regularly. Our aim is to have the play running when the audience enters Mandala,’ says Vijay Baral.

Mandala has been regularly organizing the Nepal International Drama Festival. In the festival, Nepali audiences can watch plays from various countries including China, Italy, and India. Nepali drama can be brought to theatre lovers from other countries. Mandala now brings in guest directors and produces plays. ‘Our dream is to make drama a hub by making it professional,’ adds Vijay.

‘Kausi Theater’ in Teku, Kathmandu is also different. It is on the roof of a house. Theatre artist Akanksha Karki says, ‘Katha Ghera is a self-reliant theater led by the young generation and women.’ She claims that Kausi is practicing a different practice in making plays. They raise money from crowd funding to perform plays. Karki says that although it is new in Nepal, this practice is also practiced abroad.

Shilpi Theater in Battisputali, Kathmandu was established in 2006. Shilpi has traveled from eastern to western Nepal. Shilpi tours not only Nepal but also India and sometimes Europe. ‘We include the cultures of every community in the play,’ says Rupesh Jha, a theatre artist from Shilpi, ‘We also publish books of the plays we have done. So that the next generation can easily read the books of the plays.’

Shaili Theatre is currently preparing for the 17th Children’s Drama Festival. This theatre came into operation in 2065. Shaili is instilling an interest in drama, especially among children. But, is that interest also growing among the audience? The theatre’s president, theatre artist Nawaraj Budhathoki, says, ‘Well, in the early days, they wouldn’t even come to watch it for free.’ But now the box office is full.’

Recently, there is also ‘One Theatre’ in Madhya Baneshwor. Director Anil Subba considers one year of One Theatre an achievement. The puppet play ‘Kharayo Ra Kachuwa’ is still being performed at the theatre. Earlier, a theater showed the same play in eastern cities. It aroused the interest of the students there in theater. ‘Now we are preparing to take the play to the west,’ says Anil.

A theater produced plays like ‘Dalle Khola’, ‘Khamari’ and ‘Dahrasing’ this year alone. Along with the play, the theater is training scriptwriters, choreographers and actors. ‘This is the first step. There are many more steps to take,’ says Subba. The theater mall located in Kirtipur continues to organize various workshops and plays targeting children. The theater mall, which was started by theater artist Kedar Shrestha 11 years ago, has recently been hosting more workshops than plays.

Anup Baral’s actor studio is in Pingalasthan. From time to time, new plays are staged here too. It has been a long time since the theater village of Bimal Subedi collapsed. However, this theater continues to show a strong presence from time to time through new plays. The theater and film director Sulakshan Bharti's 'Purano Ghar' theater used to perform various plays.

In Chaitra 2081, Kantipur Film Academy inaugurated its own theater in Gairidhara under the leadership of actor Rajesh Hamal. Kantipur debuted actress Rekha Thapa in its first play. Then Jeevan Luitel. Oscar International College in Sukedhara also recently launched a new theater 'Sadhana Ghar'. The first play 'Bhatti Tales' is currently being performed.