NSD Repertory Company chief Suresh Sharma along with actor Baharul Islam (left) address the media. Picture by Eastern Projectons

March 7: The actors have landed. The stage is set.

The National School of Drama (NSD) Repertory Company, New Delhi, is back in town to stage six of its most popular plays at a five-day drama festival in Rabindra Bhawan from tomorrow.

The festival, a package of six plays, including four of their latest ventures, will be staged in collaboration with the directorate of cultural affairs, Assam.

On Monday, the company wrapped up its drama festival in Nagaon, where it had co-ordinated with socio-cultural group Kallul to organise the programme.

“We’re happy to be back in the city, where theatre connoisseurs have always given us overwhelming support,” Suresh Sharma, chief of repertory company, said today. “We have missed the city’s audience for the last two years. Several factors came in our way and as a result we were not able to bring our plays here. We regret that and hope the yearly affair continues without any interruption.”

The repertory company came here first in 2000 and continued its visit till 2003.

“Plays from the NSD usually pull audiences to packed auditoriums. Otherwise, most plays receive lukewarm response. The festival should be continued without any break as it contributes to the cultural growth of the people,” said theatre personality Baharul Islam whose play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? will be staged during the festival .

The other five plays are Ghasiram Kotwal, Us Cheez Ke Aamne Saamne, Short Cut, Seema Paar, and Tajmahal Ka Tender.

Taj Mahal Ka Tender, a satire on the rank, file, red tape and officialdom, and Ghasiram Kotwal are two of the most critically acclaimed plays of the company. The other four are fresh productions, and have been showcased only at the podium of NSD in February.

The NSD Repertory Company was formed on an experimental basis by theatre doyen E. Alkazi in 1965 with only four actors. It later expanded to a larger group of actors, musicians and technicians, mainly drawn from graduates of the NSD, New Delhi

Over the years, the company has produced over 150 plays by more than 90 playwrights and 70 directors.

The company has toured all over the country as well as in Germany, Poland, Britain, Nepal, Mauritius and China.

“I am waiting with great enthusiasm for the forthcoming festival of NSD as this can be the best treat for any theatre buff. With names like Ajay Shukla, Vijay Tendulkar and Rajender Nath to name only a few, it will be a great experience,” said Meghali Deka, student of Cotton College.