Running from May 8 to May 23, NAPA Repertory Festival 2026 opens with tragicomedy ‘Annapurna’
The NAPA Repertory Festival 2026 returns this May with a packed line-up that reflects both legacy and experimentation, as the National Academy of Performing Arts marks two decades of shaping Pakistan’s performing arts landscape. Running from May 8 to May 23 at its Karachi campus, the festival brings together theatre, music, storytelling, and interactive events, offering audiences a cross-section of contemporary and classical performance.
The opening weekend sets the tone with Annapurna, staged on May 8 and 9. Directed by Moazim Malik, the tragicomedy follows a couple reconnecting after two decades apart, navigating memory, regret, and the fragile possibility of reconciliation.
On May 11 and 12, Mulaqaat takes over the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre. Featuring Waqas Akhtar and Tuba Naeem, the two-character play unfolds on a suburban railway platform, where a chance meeting between strangers turns into a humorous yet quietly transformative encounter.
The festival continues on May 13 and 14 with The Zoo Story by Edward Albee. This short play centres on a tense exchange between two men, Jerry and Peter, probing themes of isolation, class, and human connection.
Midway through the programme, May 15 and 16, the focus shifts to tradition with a Sham-e-Dastangoi at the same venue. Performances such as Aik Tha Badshah will be brought to life by NAPA alumni, including Meesam Naqvi, Nazr ul Hasan, and Fawad Khan, celebrating the oral storytelling form.
On May 17, the festival leans into musical experimentation with a fusion performance featuring the Arsalan Parvez Trio and Muhammad Minaam, blending contemporary and classical influences.
The theatrical spotlight returns on May 18 and 19 with Zeest, a 60-minute production directed by Kashif Hussain. With a cast that includes Kiran Siddiqui, Farhan Alam, Jibran Khan, and Akhtar Abbas, the play explores the quiet, often unspoken unfolding of a life through intimate spaces and layered dialogue.
The closing days round off the festival with lighter, community-driven events, including game night, a piano series, and a performance by Ahsan Bari, creating a more informal end to the two-week run. More than just a line-up of performances, this year’s repertory festival doubles as a milestone moment.
As NAPA completes 20 years, the programme reflects an evolving theatre culture, one that continues to balance experimentation with tradition, while nurturing new voices alongside established names.
