Abhimanch Theatre · since 2010
A story belongs to everyone who gathers to hear it. Abhimanch makes theatre for anyone willing to sit close, listen, and feel something together.
Bismillah Khan at Peepal Matter, Issue One · Barista, Model Town, Delhi · 28 June 2026
2025 · Akshara Theatre, New Delhi
Three stories by Premchand and Bhisham Sahni, under one tree.
2023 · Akshara Theatre, New Delhi
Dario Fo's Accidental Death of an Anarchist, in Hindi.
2018 · NCU Auditorium
Three short plays in one evening, from nostalgia to a riotous wedding.
2017 · NCU Auditorium
Swadesh Deepak's courtroom drama of justice, prejudice and honour.
2014 · NCU Auditorium
Stories of love, loss and Partition, from Premchand, Manto, Gulzar and more.
In her words
Four decades on stage and screen, from Badki in Hum Log to Ankhon Dekhi and Bareilly Ki Barfi, and a Filmfare Award for her directorial debut, Ramprasad Ki Tehrvi. Here, the maestro Seema Pahwa sends her good wishes to Abhimanch on its fifteenth anniversary.
Now and lately
Now and lately
Recent work · 2026
पीपल मैटर · गुल्ली-डंडा
Premchand's Gulli-Danda as an immersive evening. Every person who walked in was handed a line to shout on cue, and a café full of strangers became the village.
Directed by Akash Tyagi. Produced by Harshita Gandhi and Archie Arora. Core team: Kushagra Sharma, Raghav Manchanda, Parth Saxena and Garima Rawat. Venue partner: Barista, Model Town. Watch the reel
Read more
Recent work · 2025
पीपल की छाँव में
Three stories under one tree: Premchand's Gulli Danda and Bade Bhai Sahab, and Bhisham Sahni's Dholak, played with song and dance.
Directed by Akash Tyagi. With Harshita Gandhi, Archie Arora, Akash Tyagi, Kushagra Sharma and Anand Kumar. Music by Gaurav Srivastava and Sanket. Creative director Prateek Singh. Produced by Sukriti Gupta of Collective Samm.
Read more
Recent work · 2023
बेचारा मारा गया
Dario Fo's Accidental Death of an Anarchist in an Indian police station: a lovable trickster masquerading as an anarchist exposes the absurdities of authority. Laugh first, think after.
Adaptation by Chanakya Bhardwaj. Directed by Akash Tyagi and Nikhil Malhotra. Production by Sarwang Bhardwaj.
Read moreFrom the stage
From our stages
The company we keep
Bismillah Khan and his Manganiyar group play among the audience, not behind them.
Bismillah Khan and group · Barista, Model Town
The Manganiyar musicians play among the audience, not behind them. Press Listen to hear them.
Manganiyar singer and lead vocalist of Anth Baha on Coke Studio Bharat. Our principal musical collaborator.
Percussionist, disciple of Ustad Zakir Hussain.
Percussionist, known to audiences across India from India's Got Talent.
Guinness World Record holder on the kamaycha, the bowed string instrument at the heart of Manganiyar music.
Multi-instrumentalist, The ARV Collective. Music director, Peepal ki Chhanv Mein.
Our circle
The organisations who make the work possible.
Theatre
Kopal Productions
Founded by Seema Pahwa
Venue
Barista
Peepal Matter, Issue One
The journey · 2010 to now
In 2010, Akash Tyagi and Nikhil Malhotra set out to stage the great Hindustani writers. These are the plays that followed. Swipe through.
Work with us
For organisations
Presence, voice and storytelling for leaders, and story with Manganiyar music for offsites and annual days.
See formats
Workshops
Hindustani text, voice, and storytelling with live music.
Register interest
Schools and NGOs
Performances and workshops, as we did with Salaam Baalak Trust.
Get in touch
Mailing list
New productions, Peepal Matter and workshops. A few emails a year.
