Kathakali Theatre
Kathakali Theatre
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The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company
accompanied by Mohiniattam and Kalaripayattu
`A breath-taking blend of theatre, dance, drama, stunning costumes, beautiful makeup, and storytelling'
Major international Kathakali artists from Kerala, India, return to Britain for a KATHAKALI HERITAGE PROJECT 2026 where Kathakali. Kalaripayattu, and Mohiniattam unite to celebrate Kerala culture, heritage and people. Sit back, relax, and let Kathakali take you into the magical world of storytelling. Let the stunning costumes, incredible makeup, and highly experienced actors, transformed beyond recognition, take you back in time when Kathakali stories were told in the village temples of Kerala to highlight morality and human relationships
The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company, include outstanding international artists from Kerala, South India, and this welcome return sees Kathakali, Kalaripayattu, and Mohiniattam unite to celebrate the remarkable culture and history of Kerala.
The classical dance drama of Kerala south India brings stories to life that highlight the achievements and failings of society including dignity, love, strength, compassion, arrogance, rejection, cruelty, and war.
Ahead of the performance, a brief introduction to Kathakali is followed by presentations of two of Kerala's most beloved and culturally significant art forms, Kalaripayattu and Mohiniattam.
Kalaripayattu, or 'battlefield martial arts practice', which also originates in Kerala, is considered to be the oldest martial art in the world. Combining combat techniques, physical training and spiritual discipline, it is a holistic discipline focused around developing agility, strength, flexibility and balance, alongside concentration, reflexes and awareness, and uses graceful movements, acrobatics and animal-inspired techniques, making it distinctly different from other martial arts.
Mohiniattam is a female dance from Kerala. Its name, which means 'dance of the enchantress', comes from the story of how Mohini, the female avatar of the Hindu deity, Vishnu, used the beauty of her dance to help win a battle between good and evil. Characterised by slow, swaying and graceful movements of the body, it incorporates expressive use of face and hand movement alongside song.
Photo credit Mark Bennett.
About the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company
The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company brought Kathakali to this country in 1987 and made a base in Southampton. From this multi-cultural city, the company have taken Kathakali throughout the UK, and internationally, bringing its rich and ancient culture to thousands of people of all ages, cultural backgrounds and abilities. They strive to make the ancient art of Kathakali as accessible as possible and are delighted to be bringing Kathakali to the people of this country again.
Company Directors:
Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar – Kathakali Chutti artist and co-founder and co-director of The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company. Barbara arrived in south India after travelling alone overland to India across thousands of miles in 1972. Barbara was trained at the Kerala Kalamandalam by the most respected of all Chutti [make up] experts, Kalamandalam Govinda Variyar Ashan, and became the first ever female professional Chutti artist in the world, gaining the valuable title of Kalamandalam.
Kalamandalam Barbara is responsible transforming the actors with the most distinctive make up in the world. Barbara has applied the chutti on the world`s top Kathakali artists over the last 43 years and was a guest make-up specialist on the Warner Brothers film PAN
Kalamandalam Vijayakumar – Kathakali actor and co-founder and co-director of The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company. Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, born in Kerala, trained by the late master Kalamandalam Padmanabhan Nair Ashan, and Padmasree Kalamandalam Gopi Ashan, at the Kerala Kalamandalam. He was quickly recognised as an outstanding Kathakali female character specialist. A superb teacher and brilliant actor, his sensitive performances and extraordinary skills have captivated audiences world-wide for the last 40 years.
Guest artist from Kerala, India – Kathakali tour 2026.
Actors:
Kalinalayam Balakrishnan
An outstanding actor who has performed all over the world for decades, was the principal professor at The Sadanam Kathakali Academy, Kerala, India, for 37 years and brings the story alive through his interpretation of the Kathakali heroic characters.
Kalamandalam Kutty Krishnan
Trained at the Kerala Kalamandalam, Kerala, he has toured the UK with the company on many occasions bringing Kathakali to thousands of people all over the country. He excels in his classical movements and characterisation.
Sadanam Mohan
Trained at Sadanam Kathakali Academy, toured the UK, France and other countries specialising in the Kathakali evil characters. He is famous for his arrogance and anger.
Singers:
Kalamandalam Mohan.
Trained at the Kerala Kalamandalam he has been a member of the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company since 1994 providing the melody and emotion of the play through his outstanding singing.
Krishna Praveen.
Trained privately in classical singing and has accompanied Kalamandalam Mohan on many occasion. Together their voices create perfect harmonies.
Drummers:
Sadanam Ramakrishnan
Trained at Sadanam and his second visit to the UK a sensitive drummer that reflects the emotion of the story.
Kalamandalam Aneesh
Trained at the Kerala Kalamandalam is a superb drummer who supports the actors to create and dramatic atmosphere within the play.
Kathakali in Milton Keynes
This performance is part of a series of events in Milton Keynes:
A CELEBRATION OF KERALA EXHIBITION
MILTON KEYNES MUSEUM
23rd September to 7th November 2026
Open 10am - 5pm
Discover the ancient arts and culture of Kerala, through an informative exhibition of beautiful, colourful Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Bharatanatyam and Kalaripayattu costumes, the traditional dress of Kerala, and photographs.
Alongside the exhibition, Milton Keynes museum is running the following activities
AN AFTERNOON OF KERALA WITH ED ARTS.
10th October 2026
2pm - 4pm
Meet a Milton Keynes based Malayalee organisation founded to expose the remarkable arts and culture of Kerala. Learn about Mohiniattam, the female classical dance of Kerala. Discover the history, background and what is happening within the Kerala community of Milton Keynes.
AN AFTERNOON WITH KALARIPAYATTU
17th October 2026
2pm– 4pm
Led by Hrishikesh Kizhikkiyil a master of the ancient Martial Art of Kalaripayattu.
Talk directly with the artist and discover the history, and background, to Kalaripayattu, the first martial art in the world, originally used to train warriors in battle. Practiced by warrior castes who served the Kings before British rule.
AN AFTERNOON WITH KATHAKALI
28th / 29th / 30th October
2pm – 4pm
See the costumes on display, view the makeup being applied, meet the artists then see a performance telling powerful and emotional stories about human relationships. Learn about the history and how Kathakali evolved over the last 600 years.
For a full list of activities that the Kala Chethena Kathakali company, kindly funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, are bringing to the UK in 2026, please view their website - What`s on/Events Dates
For more information please contact:
The Kala Chethena Kathakali company
1, Holland Road,
Woolston
Southampton,
SO19 9FW
Tel: +44 2380 420114 / +44 7740123070
Email: barbaravijayakumar@yahoo.co.uk
Location
The Box Arts Club, MK11 3HB