NCERT Textbook: In the Company of Theatre | Arts for Class 6 (Kriti - 1) PDF Download

 Page 1


Chapter 18
In the Company of 
Theatre
Imagine living with a big team of 
artistes who only do theatre shows 
everyday and earn their living 
through that. You will be doing 
rehearsals everyday, wearing 
costumes, make-up and performing 
everyday! You would eat, play, sleep 
and even travel with them, all for 
performing shows. These were 
called, ‘Company Theatres’, that 
existed in the eighteenth, nineteenth 
and twentieth centuries. Very few 
have survived till now! 
Let us get a glimpse of this 
fascinating concept of company 
theatres that is almost non-existent 
now. 
Company Theatre is used to 
describe professional companies 
of artists who perform theatrical 
Company theatre team after a show
Concepts introduced
•  Concept of company 
theatre in India
•  Popular companies and 
their decline
4 Theatre.indd   141 7/15/2024   11:49:12 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 2


Chapter 18
In the Company of 
Theatre
Imagine living with a big team of 
artistes who only do theatre shows 
everyday and earn their living 
through that. You will be doing 
rehearsals everyday, wearing 
costumes, make-up and performing 
everyday! You would eat, play, sleep 
and even travel with them, all for 
performing shows. These were 
called, ‘Company Theatres’, that 
existed in the eighteenth, nineteenth 
and twentieth centuries. Very few 
have survived till now! 
Let us get a glimpse of this 
fascinating concept of company 
theatres that is almost non-existent 
now. 
Company Theatre is used to 
describe professional companies 
of artists who perform theatrical 
Company theatre team after a show
Concepts introduced
•  Concept of company 
theatre in India
•  Popular companies and 
their decline
4 Theatre.indd   141 7/15/2024   11:49:12 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Kriti–I | Grade 6 142
productions. There were such theatre 
troupes in Kolkata as early as the 
1700s. It usually consisted of a large 
number of people, self-su??cient in 
their requirements, professionally 
and personally. These troupes had 
everyone?—?make-up men, costume 
tailors, set designers, painters, light 
technicians, actors, dancers, singers, 
writers, cooks, managers and 
accountants. Most of the time, it had 
entire families including children, 
being a part of it! They worked 
together performing shows and 
travelling for their entire lives.
The very ??rst company theatre 
troupes that travelled to di??erent 
regions in India were the ‘parsi 
theatre companies’ in Bombay, 
Maharashtra, that performed plays 
all over India during the 1850s to  
1930s. 
The ??rst Parsi theatre company 
called ‘Parsi Natak Man?ali’ 
performed their ??rst play, Roostum 
Zabooli, and Sohrab in 1853. It was 
followed by King Afrasiab, Rustom 
Pehlvan and Padsah Faredun. By 
1860, over 20 Parsi theatre groups 
were formed in Mumbai.
Their proscenium style 
productions inspired many 
theatrical productions all over 
India. Subsequently, the company 
theatre form picked up in other 
parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka 
and Andhra Pradesh.
Popular Companies, Shows 
and Stories
Surabhi Theatre or Sri 
Venkateshwara Natya Mandali was 
formed in 1885 in Andhra Pradesh. 
Its ??rst play was Keechaka Vadha. 
This is a family theatre company that 
performs stories based on Hindu 
Parsi natak mandali
Surabhi theatre plays are known for using 
magic, live VFX and logic defying feats on stage
4 Theatre.indd   142 7/15/2024   11:49:13 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 3


Chapter 18
In the Company of 
Theatre
Imagine living with a big team of 
artistes who only do theatre shows 
everyday and earn their living 
through that. You will be doing 
rehearsals everyday, wearing 
costumes, make-up and performing 
everyday! You would eat, play, sleep 
and even travel with them, all for 
performing shows. These were 
called, ‘Company Theatres’, that 
existed in the eighteenth, nineteenth 
and twentieth centuries. Very few 
have survived till now! 
Let us get a glimpse of this 
fascinating concept of company 
theatres that is almost non-existent 
now. 
Company Theatre is used to 
describe professional companies 
of artists who perform theatrical 
Company theatre team after a show
Concepts introduced
•  Concept of company 
theatre in India
•  Popular companies and 
their decline
4 Theatre.indd   141 7/15/2024   11:49:12 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Kriti–I | Grade 6 142
productions. There were such theatre 
troupes in Kolkata as early as the 
1700s. It usually consisted of a large 
number of people, self-su??cient in 
their requirements, professionally 
and personally. These troupes had 
everyone?—?make-up men, costume 
tailors, set designers, painters, light 
technicians, actors, dancers, singers, 
writers, cooks, managers and 
accountants. Most of the time, it had 
entire families including children, 
being a part of it! They worked 
together performing shows and 
travelling for their entire lives.
The very ??rst company theatre 
troupes that travelled to di??erent 
regions in India were the ‘parsi 
theatre companies’ in Bombay, 
Maharashtra, that performed plays 
all over India during the 1850s to  
1930s. 
The ??rst Parsi theatre company 
called ‘Parsi Natak Man?ali’ 
performed their ??rst play, Roostum 
Zabooli, and Sohrab in 1853. It was 
followed by King Afrasiab, Rustom 
Pehlvan and Padsah Faredun. By 
1860, over 20 Parsi theatre groups 
were formed in Mumbai.
Their proscenium style 
productions inspired many 
theatrical productions all over 
India. Subsequently, the company 
theatre form picked up in other 
parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka 
and Andhra Pradesh.
Popular Companies, Shows 
and Stories
Surabhi Theatre or Sri 
Venkateshwara Natya Mandali was 
formed in 1885 in Andhra Pradesh. 
Its ??rst play was Keechaka Vadha. 
This is a family theatre company that 
performs stories based on Hindu 
Parsi natak mandali
Surabhi theatre plays are known for using 
magic, live VFX and logic defying feats on stage
4 Theatre.indd   142 7/15/2024   11:49:13 AM
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Theatre 143
tradition  and  history. This is one of 
the few troupes that has survived 
since 138 years. Surabhi theatre still 
showcases the following plays?—
Sri Krishna Leelalu: The exploits 
of little Krishna.
Jai Pathala Bhiravi: The story of 
folk legend Thota Ramaudu.
Bhakta Prahlada: The tale of 
Prahlada?—?a devoted child.
Maya Bazar: The tale of demon 
King Ghatothkacha.
Sri Venkateshwara Udhbhavam 
(Srinivasa Kalyanam).
Balanagamma: The story of a 
wicked sorcerer .
Karnataka Nataka Mandali was 
established in 1874 at Gadag in 
Karnataka. Sakkere Balacharya 
(Shantha Kavi) is the person behind 
this. Plays like Kichaka, Banasura 
and Vatstrapaharana were very 
popular on the stage.
Around the same time, 
Halasangi Nataka Mandali 
was started at Halasangi, Bijapur 
district of Karnataka. Srimati 
Parinaya, Madalasa Parinaya, 
Droupadi Vatstrapaharana, and 
Bhoumasura Vadhe, etc., written by 
Venkannacharya Agalagatti were 
also popular .
They had the patronage of the 
Maharajas of Mysore, who supported 
them and donated liberally towards 
encouraging the performing arts.
Shree Channabasaweshwara 
Nataka Mandali or famously 
the Gubbi Company, was the 
most famous theatre company in 
Karnataka. Their popular plays 
Sadharame, Subhadra, Hemareddy 
Mallamma, among many others 
always ran houseful shows. People 
waited in queues for days to buy 
tickets to watch them! 
Gubbi company
4 Theatre.indd   143 7/15/2024   11:49:13 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Page 4


Chapter 18
In the Company of 
Theatre
Imagine living with a big team of 
artistes who only do theatre shows 
everyday and earn their living 
through that. You will be doing 
rehearsals everyday, wearing 
costumes, make-up and performing 
everyday! You would eat, play, sleep 
and even travel with them, all for 
performing shows. These were 
called, ‘Company Theatres’, that 
existed in the eighteenth, nineteenth 
and twentieth centuries. Very few 
have survived till now! 
Let us get a glimpse of this 
fascinating concept of company 
theatres that is almost non-existent 
now. 
Company Theatre is used to 
describe professional companies 
of artists who perform theatrical 
Company theatre team after a show
Concepts introduced
•  Concept of company 
theatre in India
•  Popular companies and 
their decline
4 Theatre.indd   141 7/15/2024   11:49:12 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Kriti–I | Grade 6 142
productions. There were such theatre 
troupes in Kolkata as early as the 
1700s. It usually consisted of a large 
number of people, self-su??cient in 
their requirements, professionally 
and personally. These troupes had 
everyone?—?make-up men, costume 
tailors, set designers, painters, light 
technicians, actors, dancers, singers, 
writers, cooks, managers and 
accountants. Most of the time, it had 
entire families including children, 
being a part of it! They worked 
together performing shows and 
travelling for their entire lives.
The very ??rst company theatre 
troupes that travelled to di??erent 
regions in India were the ‘parsi 
theatre companies’ in Bombay, 
Maharashtra, that performed plays 
all over India during the 1850s to  
1930s. 
The ??rst Parsi theatre company 
called ‘Parsi Natak Man?ali’ 
performed their ??rst play, Roostum 
Zabooli, and Sohrab in 1853. It was 
followed by King Afrasiab, Rustom 
Pehlvan and Padsah Faredun. By 
1860, over 20 Parsi theatre groups 
were formed in Mumbai.
Their proscenium style 
productions inspired many 
theatrical productions all over 
India. Subsequently, the company 
theatre form picked up in other 
parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka 
and Andhra Pradesh.
Popular Companies, Shows 
and Stories
Surabhi Theatre or Sri 
Venkateshwara Natya Mandali was 
formed in 1885 in Andhra Pradesh. 
Its ??rst play was Keechaka Vadha. 
This is a family theatre company that 
performs stories based on Hindu 
Parsi natak mandali
Surabhi theatre plays are known for using 
magic, live VFX and logic defying feats on stage
4 Theatre.indd   142 7/15/2024   11:49:13 AM
Reprint 2025-26
Theatre 143
tradition  and  history. This is one of 
the few troupes that has survived 
since 138 years. Surabhi theatre still 
showcases the following plays?—
Sri Krishna Leelalu: The exploits 
of little Krishna.
Jai Pathala Bhiravi: The story of 
folk legend Thota Ramaudu.
Bhakta Prahlada: The tale of 
Prahlada?—?a devoted child.
Maya Bazar: The tale of demon 
King Ghatothkacha.
Sri Venkateshwara Udhbhavam 
(Srinivasa Kalyanam).
Balanagamma: The story of a 
wicked sorcerer .
Karnataka Nataka Mandali was 
established in 1874 at Gadag in 
Karnataka. Sakkere Balacharya 
(Shantha Kavi) is the person behind 
this. Plays like Kichaka, Banasura 
and Vatstrapaharana were very 
popular on the stage.
Around the same time, 
Halasangi Nataka Mandali 
was started at Halasangi, Bijapur 
district of Karnataka. Srimati 
Parinaya, Madalasa Parinaya, 
Droupadi Vatstrapaharana, and 
Bhoumasura Vadhe, etc., written by 
Venkannacharya Agalagatti were 
also popular .
They had the patronage of the 
Maharajas of Mysore, who supported 
them and donated liberally towards 
encouraging the performing arts.
Shree Channabasaweshwara 
Nataka Mandali or famously 
the Gubbi Company, was the 
most famous theatre company in 
Karnataka. Their popular plays 
Sadharame, Subhadra, Hemareddy 
Mallamma, among many others 
always ran houseful shows. People 
waited in queues for days to buy 
tickets to watch them! 
Gubbi company
4 Theatre.indd   143 7/15/2024   11:49:13 AM
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Kriti–I | Grade 6 144
Some unique features?—
• This troupe was the ??rst to 
allow women to act. 
• The most famous Kannada 
actor Dr Rajkumar started 
his theatre career in this 
company.
• BV Karanth, the famous theatre 
director from Karnataka also 
started his career here.
The Present Situation
The era of company theatres in India 
slowly declined after Independence. 
There were many factors that led to 
the decline?—
• Most companies were not 
managed with the ??nancial 
e??ciency required.
• The novel techniques of the 
cinema industry stood as a very 
strong contender.
• Content and stories became less 
family friendly as some companies 
resorted to unhealthy humour.
• The concept of amateur theatre 
or Havyasi theatre gained 
popularity for its convenience. 
Professional Theatre in India
At present, there has been a decline 
in company theatre, there are many 
professional repertoires that provide 
high quality productions, even to this 
day. With the development of science 
and technology, theatre techniques 
have also upgraded and this allows 
for enhanced experiences.
4 Theatre.indd   144 7/15/2024   11:49:14 AM
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