National School of Drama
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Getting there
Nearest: Mandi House (Blue and Violet Lines), ~5 min walk
Capacity and website
Capacity: Abhimanch Auditorium: 350; Sammukh: 96; Bahumukh: ~75–100 depending on the set
Upcoming at National School of Drama
About National School of Drama
The National School of Drama (NSD) is India's national theatre-training institution. It is based at Bahawalpur House on Bhagwandas Road, once the Delhi residence of the Nawab of Bahawalpur. The Sangeet Natak Akademi set NSD up in 1959, it became autonomous in 1975, and it moved its headquarters into Bahawalpur House in the mid-1970s. Students must stage plays for the public as part of their training. The campus has four performance spaces used for academic work rather than commercial hire, among them the 350-seat Abhimanch Auditorium, the 96-seat Sammukh and the flexible Bahumukh. NSD runs Bharat Rang Mahotsav, its international theatre festival, which reached its 25th edition in 2026, along with the Jashn-e-Bachpan children's theatre festival and a summer festival by its Repertory Company. Festival shows also spill over to Kamani, LTG and Shri Ram Centre.
Tips before you go
- Tickets for Bharat Rang Mahotsav and other NSD festivals are sold on BookMyShow, linked from NSD's festival pages.
- Check the venue on your ticket: an NSD show may be at Abhimanch, Sammukh or Bahumukh on campus, or at nearby Kamani, LTG or Shri Ram Centre.
- Sammukh and Bahumukh each hold fewer than 100 people, so book as soon as tickets go on sale.
- NSD's stages are not rented out commercially, so events here are NSD productions, student shows and festivals.
Frequently asked questions
When is Bharat Rang Mahotsav held?
It usually takes place early in the year. The 25th edition opened on 27 January 2026, with shows in Delhi and other cities.
Can the public watch NSD student productions?
Yes. Staging plays for the public is part of NSD's training, and these shows are held on the campus stages.
How do I reach NSD by metro?
Mandi House station (Blue and Violet Lines) is right next to the Bahawalpur House campus, about a 5-minute walk.
How many seats does Abhimanch have?
Abhimanch Auditorium seats 350. Sammukh seats 96, and Bahumukh holds about 75–100 depending on the set.
Around Mandi House
Mandi House is Delhi's theatre district. Within a few hundred metres of the Mandi House roundabout are Kamani Auditorium, the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts, the National School of Drama's stages at Bahawalpur House
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