About us

Mandar Vaidya has been awarded the Order Of Australia Medal for his contribution to the performing arts on the 26th January 2019 by Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria.

Nataydarpan Indian Theatre Academy ( NITA or Natyadarpan ) is a Melbourne based leading Theatre Group.

Natydarpan conducts acting workshops and presents dramas regularly to Melbourne audiences. Natydarpan heartily welcomes and looks for enthusiasts, amateurs and professionals to join the theatre activity. We help developing actors, directors, writers, translators, singers, background music providers, stage light and sound specialists, promoters, sound, set designers amongst those joining Natydarapn.

Natyadarpan was formed by Indian Australians living in Melbourne, Australia.

The word “Natya” in the Sanskrit language means Drama or Theatre. The word “Darpan” in the Sanskrit language means Mirror Reflection.

Natyadarpan through its activities strives to project reflections of life experiences in a theatrical form.Indian theatre originated in ancient times. Sanskrit theatre emerged in the 2nd century BCE and flourished from the 1st century CE. The Nāṭya Śāstra is a Sanskrit text on the performing arts. The text is attributed to sage Bharata Muni, and its first complete compilation is dated to between 200 BCE and 200 CE, but estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE. Today, In India, the theatre is a highly popular performing art. Indian films industry, popularly known as “Bollywood”, originated from the theatre activity in Mumbai.
Migrant Indians have taken this rich cultural heritage to many corners of the world. In Melbourne, Indian migration began about 175 years ago.
Mandar Vaidya OAM has pursued the most sustained Indian theatre activity in Melbourne since 2002. Mandar, who is an alumnus of Mumbai’s Prithvi Theatre http://www.prithvitheatre.org/, Mumbai was a new migrant to Australia then. Since then, Mandar has acted and directed in over 35 plays in English, Hindi and Marathi languages.

In 2015, Mandar was joined by other theatre enthusiasts to form a Social Enterprise community group “Natyadarpan”. Natydarpan has presented till date over 11 plays, 6 theatre workshops and 2 mono acting festivals. Each year Natydarpan participates in Good Friday Appeal to raise funds and has raised over $20,000 till date. Proceeds from Natydarpan shows are regularly donated to needy organizations.

Our Team

Meet Our Team

Vision

Unveiling the Magic: Step into a world where imagination knows no bounds, and expressions speak louder than words. Natyadarpan envisions a stage where every actor becomes a storyteller, and every performance is a masterpiece.

Mission

Crafting Excellence: With a blend of traditional wisdom and contemporary techniques, we are dedicated to honing the skills of budding artists. We provide a platform that encourages experimentation, growth, and the evolution of theatrical crafts.

Natyadarpan Indian Theatre Academy

Mandar Vaidya has been awarded the Order Of Australia Medal for his contribution to the performing arts on the 26th January 2019 by Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, Governor of Victoria.

Natyadarpan Indian Theatre Academy – Where Every Act is a Work of Art.”

Inclusive

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Responsible

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Respectful

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Collaborative

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what people say about us

I was thoroughly impressed with the last NatyaDarpan performance, Bandhi and Shahzada in particular. Initially, I had not realised that the entire performance was going to drag me in to the extent of teary eyes watching the kids by the railway line. I was hugely impacted in the short performances. Bandhi was very captivating, too. The bell and response of ‘ghungru’, to its tintinabulation was used brilliantly. Shahzada was excellent and every single character, stood out clearly and with their individual identity, which had been achieved with ease. If you have one more performance, please let me know, I wish to see it again!

Dr. Prashant Joshi

Cardiothoracic Surgeon, Dept. of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Monash Medical Centre, Melbourne

Become a Part of Natyadarpan

The Red Curtain Beckons: As the red curtain rises, it unveils a world of emotions, a canvas of creativity, and a sanctuary for passion. Join us in preserving the legacy of Indian theatre while creating new narratives for generations to come.