Scenes from Ahon Guptu’s drag drama ‘Item’ (Photo Credits: Nayanthara Majumdar)

Pune: For six days this June, Shriram Lagoo Rang-Akaash will become a space for quirky storytelling, performance and dialogue as Satrang Mahotsav 2026 will bring together theatre-makers, dancers, drag artists and writers from across India.Running from 16 to 21 June, the festival presents a packed program of plays, workshops, panel discussions and performances exploring queer lives and experiences.Productions range from traditional Lavani and contemporary dance to drag, devised theatre, and experimental performances, reflecting the breadth of artistic practices within India’s LGBT community.According to festival director Deepa Dharmadhikari, every playwright, director and choreographer participating in the festival identifies as queer, representing a wide spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations.Dharmadhikari said, “The festival has been created without institutional or corporate sponsorship. We are crowdfunding through the community because we wanted it to be a festival that is for, by and with the gay community.”The schedule includes “Romeo Ranjha”, “Jisman Ton Paar”, “Where’s SSS?” Such production is included. , “Colorful Lavani”, with workshops, drag performances and Lavani traditions.The play “Dirty Laundry 2.0,” directed and co-written by Gurleen Arora, was created in response to an art exhibit featuring queer artists, and has now been reimagined for the stage with a new cast that includes transgender and non-binary artists.Arora said, “We wanted to examine what home means to gay people and how they navigate relationships within domestic spaces. The play asks how much the gay experience has changed over the last 100 years, and how much remains surprisingly familiar. While today’s gay communities have greater visibility and access to resources, there can also be a deep sense of isolation.”“Item”, directed by Ahon Guptu, blends theatre, drag, dance, music and audience interaction. This production traces the journey of a drag artist as she reflects on identity, belonging and self-discovery.Guptu said, “The show moves between different moments of a person’s life. Each performance ended with a conversation with the audience because asking questions and creating a safe space for dialogue is central to the project.”