The five-day Women Directors’ Theatre Festival at Punjab Kala Bhawan highlighted the resilience of women in theatre

Vinya Singh

The Punjab Kala Bhawan became the epicentre of artistic brilliance as it invited Chandigarh’s theatre enthusiasts and thespians to the five-day Women Directors’ Theatre Festival recently. The festival was part of Rebooting Punjab, a mega-festival organised by the Punjab Arts Council, Chandigarh. It highlighted the strength, creativity and resilience of women in theatre. The festival, which concluded on March 9, saw ground-breaking performances, and thought-provoking narratives from women directors.

The five-day festival featured some exclusive plays by women-led theatre group of the region like Bol Kyu Lab Khamosh Hai Tere. The Adjustment was one among them. The director, Anita Sharma shared, “The journey of its lead inspired me to adapt; the shocking unravelling of its plot is raw and relatable, making the audience resonate with it.”

Together, these narratives create a powerful theatrical experience that sparked conversation, empathy and the call for change. The festival also brought to light the deep-seated social stigma that confines women, questioning traditions that dictate how they should live, behave, and dream. Through these raw and empathetic stories, the festival challenged moral judgments surrounding taboo subjects.