Swatantra Theatre


Swatantra Theatre is an Indian theatre organization and troupe based in Pune, India. The troupe produces and performs plays in Hindi language. In addition to theatre productions, the troupe also carries theatre education, training and theatre festival. It has staged productions across India. Swatantra's alumni include Shivankit Singh Parihar, Karan Kishore Parab, Tushar Kawle, Prakhar Singh. Mahadev Singh Lakhawat, Varun Rajput, Prashant Singh, Aarsvi Joshi and Aditya Singhal
Swatantra Theatre was founded by Abhijeet Choudhary, Dhanashree Heblikar and Yuwaraj Shah in 2007. Choudhary serves as a director of the plays, while Heblikar serves as creative director.

History

In 2005, Abhijeet Choudhary, who was working as an actor at Asmita Theatre, and Dhanashree Heblikar, a stage actor, met in Pune and decided to start a theatre group that would produce Hindi-language plays solely, because at that time, the theatre of Pune was dominated by Marathi theatre. The theatre trope was founded on 15 August 2007. As of 2018, the troupe has 55 permanent members.

Activities

Choudhary directs the plays produced by the troupe, and Heblikar serves as creative director and manages aesthetics including music, light, set, costumes. Swatantra organizes Swatantra Rang Hindi Theater Festival, a two or three-days theatre festival, annually. It also organizes Children's Theatre Festival twice in a year, and a virtual theatre festival, Rang-e-Dastaan. It organized workshops twice in a month to give education about on voice modulation, body control and acting.
The theatre presents the Yuwaraj of Theatre of Award annually on its anniversary day.

Plays

Swatantra Theatre produces plays which often deal with the theme of social consciousness. It has also worked in experimental theatre. The troupe often performs plays on mental health awareness. The troupe has performed its plays at various places including Film and Television Institute of India, BHARANGAM-2020 AND BHARANGAM 2024National School of Drama,37th Pune Festival, Vizag Junior Theatre Festival, Kukdukoo Children's Festival
Deccan Literature Festival, National Defence Academy., 37th Pune Festival at Bal Gandharva Ranga Mandir
YearPlayRef.
2008Court Martial
2008Aaj Ki Taaza Khabar
2008Zindagi Ke Rang
2008Andha Yug
2009Gagan Damama Bajyo
2009Dhool Mein Lipta Sach
2010Dayashankar Ki Diary
2010Hamlet In My School
2011Ajab Sher Ki Gajab Kahani
2011Ji Jaisi Aapki Marzi
2013Cheaper By The Dozen
2013Mashaal Jalao Diye Se
2014Dakghar
2014Komal Gandhar
2014Gharonda
2015Chulbule Bulbule
2016Jis Lahore Nahi Dekhya wo Jamya Nai
2016Taj Mahal ka Tender
2017An Evening with Chekhov
2017Jhalkiyaan
2018Panchi Aise Aate Hain
2019Khamosh Adalat Jaari Hain
2019Jaag Utha Hai Raigad
2020Common Sadness
2020Vijeta Kaun
2020The Bicycle Girl
2020Sheher-e-Naqab
2020Bakri
2020Ujbak Raja Teen Dacoit
2021Sihar Uthi Thi Maut Yahan
2022Ashadh Ka Ek Din
2022Malgudi Days
2023Hamidabai Ki Kothi

Awards and Felicitations

  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2018
Dhanashree Heblikar- Best Actor for Play Mujhe Amrita Chahiye
Rashmi Gupta Received Excellence in Acting for Play Mujhe Amrita Chahiye
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2019
Won 4th Best Play Tajmahal Ka Tender
Ashwin Sharma Best Actor for Play Tajmahal Ka Tender
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2020
Won 3rd Best Play Kabira Khada Bazar Mein
Dhanashree Heblikar Received Excellence in Acting for Play Kabira Khada Bazar Mein
Selected to Perform play "Jaag Utha Hai Raigad"
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2021
Krushan Doshi Received Excellence in Acting for Play Jaag Utha Hai Raigad
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2022
Sihar Uthi Thi Maut Yahan Received 7 Awards
Best 2nd Play
Best Director Abhijeet Choudhary
Best Actor Dhanashree Heblikar
& Prashant Gowda
Best Set Design Arun Jagtap
Best Make-up Aayushi
Excellence in Acting- Chezan Lawyer
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Marathi 2022
Kirti Kadam Received Excellence in Acting for Play "Raigadala Jeva Jaag Yete"
  • Vizag Junior Theatre Fest 2023 In Vishakhapatnam
Invited to Perform Play "Malgudi Day" in English
Selected to Perform Play "Sihar Uthi Thi Maut Yahan"
  • Saheed Bhavan Bhopal 2024
Invited to Perform Play "Sihar Uthi Thi Maut Yahan"
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2024
Dhanashree Heblikar and Prashant Gowda Received Excellence in Acting Award for Play Hamida bai Ki Kothi Received
  • 63rd Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha 2025, the Marathi play "Hamidabai Chi Kothi" received multiple awards
2nd Best Play
Best Acting- Dhanashree Heblikar and Prashant Gowda
Best Direction- Abhijeet Choudhary
Best Costumes and Makeup - Ankita Choudhary
  • 63rd Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Marathi -2025
Aswhin Sharma Received Best Actor Awards from all over Maharashtra
  • Maharashtra Rajya Natya Spardha Hindi 2025
Rajeev Bhardwaj Received Exlcellnce in Acting Award for Play CHAUTHI CIGARRETE.