NAPA Repertory Festival 2026 opens in Karachi with Annapurna

KARACHI: The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) has opened its Repertory Festival 2026 in Karachi, launching a theatre programme that will continue from May 8 to May 23 at the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre.

According to the details shared in the report, the festival will present a range of stage productions described as thought-provoking and high-quality, highlighting the work of theatre artists from Pakistan.

The opening evening featured Annapurna, staged in an Urdu adaptation by Noreen Gulwani. The performance drew a strong response from members of the audience, including theatre enthusiasts and art lovers who attended the launch.

The play focused on human relationships, dreams and internal emotional struggle. The actors’ performances were described as compelling, with the production connecting strongly with viewers. Audience members appreciated the play for its emotional intensity and its storytelling.

Festival and institution

NAPA is a performing arts school based at Hindu Gymkhana in Karachi. It was established in 2005 as an institution aimed at preserving and teaching performing arts and music.

At the academy, music students are taught by a faculty made up of practicing musicians, musicologists and visiting maestros. Students also have the opportunity to broaden their range of compositions and styles through instruction from multiple teachers.

The Theatre Arts department offers students academic study across different areas of theatre along with practical training and the chance to present their work before an audience.

Zia Mohyeddin’s role

Zia Mohyeddin was the founding chairman of NAPA. He was asked by then president Pervez Musharraf to establish and lead a national institution for arts and music.

Mohyeddin had trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and spent much of his life working in theatre, film and television, appearing in local as well as international productions. He also performed in a number of Broadway and West End plays, and worked extensively as a producer and director.

Building issue

The report also noted that in December 2018, the Supreme Court of Pakistan directed the Sindh government to relocate NAPA from the Hindu Gymkhana building. However, as of February 11, 2020, that directive had not been implemented.

The Repertory Festival 2026 marks the latest edition of NAPA’s theatre programming in Karachi, with the opening production setting the tone for the rest of the event at the Zia Mohyeddin Theatre.