17–23 January 2027
International Festival of Theatre Schools
A unique platform dedicated to creative exchange, critical dialogue and new possibilities in theatre pedagogy, IFTS 2027 invites theatre schools, educators, scholars, students and practitioners to come together under the theme “Carnival of Pedagogy: Theatre and Street.” Together, we explore the street as a living classroom and stage, examining the intersections of theatre, public space, community, ecology, identity and social life, and reimagining how theatre education can engage with the world beyond.
Concept Note>
Carnival Of Pedagogy:
Theatre And Street
The Fifth Edition of the International Festival of Theatre Schools (IFTS) 2027, under the theme “Carnival of Pedagogy: Theatre and Street,” explores the street as the first classroom, the original stage and a living space of public learning. The festival moves theatre education beyond institutional walls, engaging with the rhythms, stories, cultures and realities of everyday street life. Through interdisciplinary dialogue, workshops, research, site-based practices and community engagement, IFTS 2027 examines theatre, public space, identity, ecology and social relations. The Fifth Edition invites theatre schools, educators, scholars, students and practitioners to reimagine pedagogy as embodied, public, collaborative and transformative learning.
Glimpses of Past Editions
Where Theatre, Academia and Culture Converge
Delegation of National and international Institutions
Scholarly Discourses
A space for knowledge Creation and Sharing
The festival serves as a dynamic platform for meaningful discourses, welcoming the participation of students, scholars, practitioners, academicians, and cultural enthusiasts. It aims to connect people and foster the exchange of knowledge across diverse regions and cultures, encouraging dialogue that spans from formal presentations to performative explorations.
Pedagogues
Nationally & Internationally renowned Resource Persons
"she has made significant contributions to theatre as a singer, composer, educator, and creative collaborator, and is also a scholar and writer engaging with music, gender, and culture."
"a distinguished Japanese Noh actor of the Kanze school, who has led the Ryokusenkai troupe since 1974 and directed the annual Takigi-Noh performances in Koganei since 1979"
"a renowned Kerala folk artist with extensive national and international performance experience, contributing significantly to the preservation, research, and revitalization of indigenous folk arts. "
Host & Organizing Institution
School of Drama and Fine Arts
Established in the year 1977, the School of Drama stands tall as one of India's prominent institutions, dedicated to imparting comprehensive academic training encompassing both the practical and theoretical facets of drama and theatre.
Apply for IFTS 2027 Delegation | The last date for registration has been extended to 31 October 2026.
Call for delegations
IFTS Delegations are proposed under two categories: Institutional Delegation and Individual Delegation.
Institutional Delegation
Theatre departments, universities, academies, and cultural institutions may participate as institutional delegations with a team of students and faculty members. The delegation may engage in the festival’s performances, workshops, discussions, academic exchanges, and other programme activities.
Individual Delegation
The Individual Delegation is open to young theatre practitioners from Kerala, with preference given to those without formal academic training in theatre. The delegation provides an opportunity to participate in the festival’s performances, workshops, discussions, and other theatre-related activities.