Natyasasthra is a theatre group and Centre for Theatre Studies, which began functioning in 1996 at Katampazhipuram in Palakkad Dist. Major objectives of the centre are the following:
1. production and presentation of plays by the natyasastra repertoire,
2. studies and researches on contemporary theatre and history of performing arts,
3. publication of periodicals, books, cds and dvds on theatre s
tudies and performance,
4. organizing theatre festivals, workshops, seminars etc.,
5. construction of a performance space at Katampazhipuram. The activities of Natyasasthra began with the production of the play, ‘Kanneerum Kinavum’, the theatre adaptation of the autobiography of V.T.Bhattathiripad who pioneered the social revolutionary movements in Malabar in the first half of the 20th century. During the past years Natyasasthra has produced fifteen plays, which were performed in and outside the state. Natyasasthra has also organized many events, which include seven major theatre festivals. While celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2005, Natyasasthra organized the Shakespeare festivals which included the Shakespeare Film Festival and the International Shakespeare Theatre Festival and in 2011 a Tagore National Festival was organized to mark the 150th birth anniversary of the Great Poet which included Tagore Music and Dance festival, Tagore Film Festival, Painting camp and exhibition and the National Theatre Festival.. Natyasasthra has also organized a few Traditional Indian Theatre Festivals like the Bhasanatakolsavam, Kutiyattam Festival , Ramayana mela, Poothana Festival and the Nangiarkoothu Festival. Natyasasthra has also organased many film and documentary festivals in association with Kazhcha Film society. Natyasasthra has succeeded in bringing many internationally acclaimed masters to a rural village like Katampazhipuram to participate in these events. Maya Tangeberg- Grischin, Sri. Habib Tanvir, Dr.K.Ayyappa Panicker, Prof.S.Ramanujam, Sri.Kavalam Narayana Panicker,Sri Kalamandalam Ramankutty Nair,Sri. Kalamandalam Sivan Namboothiri, Dr. Anuradha Kapur, Dr Neelam Mansingh, Ms. Seema Biswas, Ms. Nageen Tanvir, Sri.K.T.Muhammad, Sri.P.K.Venukkuttan Nair, Sri.Katammanitta Ramakrishnan, Sri.Vayala Vasudevan Pillai and Sri.Venu.G to name a few. Another major landmarks in the history of Natyasasthra were the foundation of two schools - the School of Performing Arts and the School of Languages - in 2006 and the starting of the School of Arts, Aesthetics and Philosophy, Kerala in 2013. Natyasasthra collaborates with Kazhcha Film Society, Sreekrishnapuram and Mediamill , Thiruvananthapuram for organising Film and Documentary festivals and workshops. Natyasasthra collaborates with Chathakkudam Krishnan Nambiar Mizhaavukalari, Vallachira in organizing Kutiyattam and Nangiarkoothu performances and Festivals and also for conducting Kutiyattam workshops. Natyasasthra has also started two major projects in 2014 – 1. Bhasa Natakolsavam, an ambitious project to present all the plays of Bhasa in various performance formats like Kutiyattam, Modern theatre and various dance forms. The project started with the presentation of Bhasa’s play Abhishekanatakam 2. Indian Theatre @ Kadampazhipuram , an endeavour to organize mini Theatre Festivals at least once in six months which will showcase many plays by an author, director or a theatre group. First of the series was organized in October 2014 with the presentation of three palys by veteran theatre director Prof. S Ramanujam.
