Katkatha Puppet Residency

Residency brief

The Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust is a travelling puppet theater company founded in 1998, which frequently collaborates with international puppet theatre companies and festivals, among which the World Festival of Puppet Theaters of Charleville-Mézières. One of their key priorities is to develop a professional training program for the next generation of puppeteers, by providing intensive courses and workshops within their company. Through this residency, Katkatha will allow French artists to explore and experience the numerous and diverse puppetry traditions in India, Delhi being the main but not exclusive location of the residency.

The residency will be divided into two parts: a 10-15 days master class with Katkatha puppeteers including puppet building, animation and performance and mentorship during which the resident will be able to develop his/her project. Throughout the residency, the French artist will be fully immersed in the company, and when possible he/she will be associated with Katkatha’s daily activities such as in-house productions and commissioned shows, applied puppetry projects in cultural and educational institutions, and community theater activities for children. This could be the opportunity to take part also in the preparation of festivals such as Ishara International Puppet theatre and Kamaladevi Memorial Puppet Festival at the India International Centre, happening around the time of the residency, and which will include traditional puppet performances, lecture demonstrations and some puppet making skills.

  • Thematic focus Arts & Crafts, Performing arts (puppetry)
  • Location Badarpur (Delhi) & Mussoorie (Uttarakhand)
  • Dates Between February 2025 and May 2025
  • Length of stay 6 to 8 weeks
  • Apply Now

Our Space

Katkatha Puppet Arts Trust Studio, Badarpur (Delhi), Savitri Villa, Katkatha residency Faridabad & and Mussoorie (Uttarakhand)

Katkatha Studio is located at the southern border of Delhi, 12 kilometers from the city centre. The population around is dense and semi-urban, encompassing a large part of the city’s labour force. The rehearsal room overlooks the main alleyway of the district, therefore opening a window to the entire community. The residency studio apartment is in Faridabad Sector 37, in a quiet residential neighbourhood. This is a fully furnished flat with a small rehearsal space and study. It is close to the Sarai metro station on the Violet line and about 2 km from the Katkatha studio.

Savitri Villa in Mussoorie is an eighty-year-old family home, with wonderful views of the Himalayas. Mussoorie is a hill station in the state of Uttarakhand in the North of India.

Residency conditions

  • The resident should be willing to participate in an Open House at the Katkatha studio at the end of the master class, where he/she will showcase a live performance, an interactive installation, or a puppet film.
  • The resident should provide Katkatha with a brief report of his/her experience in the form of a short article.
  • The resident will be provided with collective studio facilities (which includes a rehearsal studio), as well as basic tools and materials for puppet building.
  • The resident will be provided with on-site accommodation, which includes a shared room during the master-class, and a single room during the mentorship.
  • The resident will receive a fixed stipend of INR. 60,000 per month to cover his/her food and living expenses.
  • The resident will receive a residency grant of INR. 50 000 per month.
  • The resident’s travel costs to and from his/her home address will be covered by the French Institute in India.

Eligibility criteria

  • Proficiency in English is required for the applicant.