Mandala Theatre-Nepal invites applications for the 3rd Batch of Mandala Drama School (MDS) — an 18-month residential theatre training program designed to nurture young theatre-makers, storytellers, and cultural leaders from across Nepal.
This fully-funded program is implemented under the project “Reclaiming Advocacy through Narratives, Debates, Grassroot Theatre and Arts (RANGA)”, supported by the European Union.
With the focus on nurturing young playmakers, Mandala Drama School combines intensive practical training with creative playmaking, community engagement, and social dialogue. The program focuses on developing skills in acting, directing, playwriting, production, and participatory theatre methods, while encouraging students to explore local stories, social issues, and inclusive storytelling practices.
The training is structured in three semesters over 18 months, including:
- Ensemble productions and performance practice
- Creative writing and play development
- Participatory theatre (Forum, Playback, Documentary Theatre)
- Community engagement and practice teaching
- Technical theatre training using local resources
After completing the course, participants will return to their provinces to develop and stage original productions, which will be showcased at the Nepal International Theatre Festival (NITFEST) 2028.
What the Program Offers
- Intensive professional training in theatre and playmaking
- Opportunity to work with national and international artists
- Hands-on experience in productions and performances
- Exposure to community-based theatre practices
- Opportunity to present work at NITFEST 2028
- A network of theatre practitioners across Nepal
Who Can Apply?
We are looking for motivated young individuals who are passionate about theatre, storytelling, and social change.
Selection Structure:
- Total 14 participants will be selected (ideally 2 participants from each province)
-
Criteria for application
-
The minimum age of the applicant should be 18 years
-
At least 2 years active experience in theatre work
-
Commitment to attend the whole course without any excuses
-
Should have a strong interest in: Theatre and performing arts; Play writing and direction, Storytelling and creative expression; Social change, justice, peace building, inclusion, and advocacy
- Willingness to actively participate in theatre productions, festivals, and community engagement activities.
-
Willingness and ideas to multiply the learnings from Drama School in future
-
Willingness to conduct research on local theatre or performance practices and elements
-
Friendly with basic computer programs and online surfing
-
Willingness to learn and work in groups of diverse backgrounds
-
Empathetic, sensitive and willingness to reflect and adapt professional and personal behaviors
-
Good communication skills, different language skills would be an added advantage
-
Knowledge and skills of different art mediums such as music, dance, painting, sculpturing etc. would be an added advantage
-
Candidates from unprivileged and marginalized communities in Nepali society such as women, LGBTQI+ (special focus on intersex individuals), persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
-
Selection Process
-
Open call application- 2026 May 10
-
Deadline for application submission- 2026 May 30
-
Shortlisting 32 candidates by reviewing online applications- 2026 June 10
-
Orientation workshop for shortlisted 32 applicants- 2026 June 24-30
-
Interview and audition for final selection- 2026 June 30
-
Final result publication- 2026 July 7
-
Official welcome program by Drama School graduates- 2026 July 18
-
Class start- 2026 July 19
Scholarship facilities for students
- Tuition fees
- Stationeries and training materials including for materials practical sessions,
- Fooding (breakfast, lunch, snacks, dinner) and lodging with basic amenities like internet, first-aid kit [fooding & lodging facilities is not available for semester breaks]
- Medical & Accidental Insurance coverage as per policy,
- Nominal monthly support for local travel and communication.
Syllabus (पाठ्यक्रम)
-
Mandala Drama School – Third Batch is designed as a structured yet practice-driven intervention linking residential playmaking, provincial leadership, and national/international festival platforms. By combining ethical training, strong writing discipline, participatory theatre methods, debating, folk traditions, and technical skill-building, the program nurtures a new generation of socially conscious theatre-makers capable of sustaining inclusive creative advocacy across Nepal.
-
The whole curriculum is distributed in 3 semesters. Internal evaluation is conducted at the end of each semester. Students are sent on vacation after each semester.
-
This structure ensures clarity of learning progression, measurable outcomes, and strong alignment with RANGA objectives. Each semester builds toward independent artistic leadership, culminating in provincial productions and national festival integration.
SEMESTER 1: Theatre Lab & Production Process
The first semester of Mandala Drama School is designed as an intensive Theatre Lab, where students are introduced to the foundations of theatre-making through embodied practice, collective discipline, and ethical awareness. The process begins with a strong emphasis on creating a safe and inclusive learning environment, where students explore questions of representation, power, and social sensitivity alongside their artistic training. Through daily acting exercises, voice and body work, improvisation, and ensemble-building practices, participants develop the essential skills required for performance. Simultaneously, they engage in a full production cycle—moving from understanding production planning to rehearsals and public performances—allowing them to experience theatre as a living, collaborative process. The semester also integrates creative and research-based writing, encouraging students to articulate their ideas and reflect on their artistic journeys. A key component of this phase is the exploration of folk theatre traditions, where students reconnect with their cultural roots through field research during the festival break. Overall, this semester aims to ground students in both the craft and responsibility of theatre, preparing them for more independent and exploratory creation in the following phases.
SEMESTER 2: Creative Incubator
The second semester functions as a Creative Incubator, where students transition from learning foundational skills to actively shaping their own artistic voices and methods of playmaking. Building on the discipline and awareness developed in the first semester, this phase encourages experimentation with diverse theatrical forms and purposes. Students engage with participatory theatre approaches such as Forum Theatre, Playback Theatre, and Documentary Theatre, understanding theatre as a tool for dialogue, healing, and social intervention. Through research-based inquiry, seminars, and discussions, they begin to identify issues that resonate with their personal and community contexts. The semester emphasizes both collective and individual creation: students collaboratively devise performances while also developing their own scripts and mini-productions in pairs. Exposure to other art forms such as visual arts further expands their creative sensibilities. This phase is less about instruction and more about exploration—allowing students to test ideas, take creative risks, and discover their unique approaches to storytelling. By the end of the semester, participants gain confidence in working with multiple production strategies and develop the capacity to create theatre that is both artistically engaging and socially relevant.
SEMESTER 3: Creating Plays, Creating Dialogue
The third semester focuses on transforming students into independent theatre-makers capable of leading creative processes within their communities. This phase emphasizes the intersection of artistic practice, technical competence, and social engagement. Students are trained in working with diverse communities, designing and facilitating workshops, and applying theatre as a tool for dialogue and collective reflection. At the same time, they receive hands-on technical training in scenography, lighting, sound, costume, and multimedia, with a focus on using locally available resources. Through advanced dramaturgical discussions and exposure to a wide range of plays, they deepen their analytical and creative capacities. The culmination of this semester is the development of final productions, where students work in provincial pairs to conceptualize, write, and direct plays rooted in the realities of their own communities. These productions serve not only as artistic outputs but also as frameworks for future engagement at the provincial level and within national platforms such as the Nepal International Theatre Festival. This semester ultimately prepares students to step beyond the institution—as facilitators, creators, and cultural leaders—capable of sustaining theatre practices that foster dialogue, inclusion, and social transformation.
-
Application Process
- Fill out the application form either in English or in नेपाली
- Only shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview/audition.
