Delhi: BRICS Theatre Festival opens at National School of Drama

Drums and conch shells marked the opening of the BRICS Theatre Festival at Delhi’s National School of Drama, where student performers welcomed artistes and delegates from nine countries.

The three-day programme is built around the theme “Shared Stories, Shared Futures”. Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said audiences could understand gestures on stage even when they did not follow every word.

Among the participating artistes is South African actor Milu, who is involved in the play *Someone*. She said she hoped audiences would take away a message of letting go in order to find oneself.

Vivek Agarwal, secretary in the Ministry of Culture, said organisers began selling passes 20 days before the festival opened to widen access. He said the performances were already full.