Exhibition, live performances and workshops bring the colour, drama and traditions of Kerala to audiences across the UK
The vibrant colours, expressive gestures and captivating storytelling of Kerala’s classical performing arts are attracting attention across the UK this autumn, as the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company brings a rich programme of exhibitions, performances and workshops to cultural venues across the country.
Two significant highlights of the tour are a special Kathakali performance at London’s Nehru Centre on 22 October and an extensive exhibition of Kerala’s traditional performing arts at Milton Keynes Museum, which continues until 7 November 2026.
The programme offers audiences an opportunity to experience Kathakali, one of India’s most distinctive classical dance-drama traditions, while discovering the costumes, music, facial expressions and cultural stories that have been preserved and developed over centuries in Kerala.
Daksha Yaga at the Nehru Centre, London
London audiences will have an opportunity to experience Kathakali live when the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company presents “Daksha Yaga” at the Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, Mayfair, on Thursday, 22 October 2026, at 6.30 pm.
The performance brings to life a compelling story from Hindu mythology involving King Daksha, his daughter Sati and Lord Shiva. The tale explores the consequences of pride, the power of devotion and the conflict between personal ego and spiritual conviction.
Kathakali is renowned for its elaborate costumes, intricate makeup, rhythmic movements and highly developed language of hand gestures and facial expressions. Its performers communicate complex emotions and dramatic narratives through a combination of movement, music, percussion and symbolic expression, often without spoken dialogue.
For newcomers to the art form, the London presentation offers an accessible introduction to this remarkable tradition. A short documentary and live demonstration are planned to help audiences understand the meaning of mudras, the symbolic hand gestures, and navarasas, the nine expressions used to communicate emotions in Indian classical performance.
The Nehru Centre event is free, with places allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance booking through the venue is required.
Daksha Yaga, Nehru Centre, London
Date: Thursday, 22 October 2026 Time: 6.30 pm
Venue: The Nehru Centre, 8 South Audley Street, London W1K 1HF
Admission: Free; advance booking required, subject to availability.
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Milton Keynes Museum celebrates Kerala’s performing arts
Meanwhile, Milton Keynes Museum is hosting a colourful exhibition celebrating the artistic and cultural heritage of Kerala. Running from 23 September to 7 November 2026, the exhibition has been curated by the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company and features an impressive collection of traditional costumes, photographs and cultural artefacts.
One of its principal attractions is a collection of complete Kathakali costume sets described by the organisers as the only such full sets located outside India. The elaborate headdresses are particularly notable for their intricate wooden carvings, with some sections believed to be more than 200 years old.
Kathakali costumes are far more than decorative clothing. Their colours, shapes and ornaments help identify characters and communicate their nature to the audience. Combined with carefully applied makeup and expressive acting, they transform performers into kings, gods, demons and other figures from India’s epic and mythological traditions.
The exhibition also showcases costumes associated with Mohiniattam, Kerala’s graceful classical dance traditionally performed by women, and Bharatanatyam, one of India’s best-known classical dance forms. Visitors can also explore the vibrant ritual tradition of Theyyam and discover the costume and martial heritage of Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s traditional martial art.
The collection provides a valuable insight into the close relationship between art, ritual, history and community life in Kerala. The museum says the Kathakali costumes will eventually become part of the Victoria and Albert Museum’s South Asian Costume Collection in London, making the current exhibition a special opportunity to view them in Milton Keynes.
Special Kathakali days in October
The Milton Keynes programme continues with a series of special events designed to bring visitors closer to Kerala’s performance traditions.
From 28 to 30 October, the museum will host special Kathakali sessions. Visitors will be able to observe the traditional makeup process between 10 am and 12.30 pm, followed by performances by experienced artists from Kerala between 2 pm and 4 pm, with an opportunity for questions and answers afterwards.
These sessions offer a rare chance to see the painstaking preparation behind Kathakali. The elaborate chutti, the distinctive white facial framework made from prepared materials, is an essential element of the transformation that takes place before performers enter the stage.
The wider programme also includes opportunities to learn about Kalaripayattu and other Kerala traditions, making the museum’s exhibition much more than a static display of costumes and photographs.
The exhibition is included in general museum admission.
Milton Keynes Museum is located on McConnell Drive, Wolverton, Milton Keynes, MK12 5EL, and is normally open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30 am to 4.30 pm.
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Kala Chethena: bringing Kerala’s traditions to new audiences
The tour is organised by the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company, established in 1987 by Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, a Kathakali actor, and Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, a distinguished makeup specialist recognised as the first woman to practise the specialised Kathakali chutti makeup tradition professionally.
For almost four decades, the company has worked to introduce Kathakali to audiences from different cultural backgrounds, making an art form rooted in Kerala’s history accessible to people of all ages and levels of familiarity with Indian classical arts.
Through performances, demonstrations, educational workshops and exhibitions, the company has helped audiences across Britain discover the artistry, discipline and storytelling power of Kerala’s classical and traditional forms.
Its current programme brings together the visual splendour of Kathakali, the elegance of Mohiniattam, the athletic traditions of Kalaripayattu and the wider cultural heritage of Kerala. It also creates opportunities for people of Indian heritage to reconnect with traditions passed down through generations, while introducing these art forms to new audiences.
A celebration of Kerala’s living heritage
The London performance and Milton Keynes exhibition demonstrate how Kerala’s cultural traditions continue to find audiences well beyond their place of origin. They offer more than an appreciation of spectacular costumes or dramatic stagecraft; they provide an opportunity to understand the stories, beliefs, artistic skills and cultural memory embodied in these traditions.
For Kerala’s diaspora in Britain, the programme is also an important opportunity to share the state’s rich heritage with children and younger generations, helping ensure that these distinctive art forms remain relevant and appreciated.
With the Nehru Centre performance approaching and further special sessions planned at Milton Keynes Museum, the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company’s autumn programme promises a memorable celebration of Kerala’s enduring artistic legacy.
List of forthcoming Kathakali in the UK – National Tour
17 October – Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Museum – An Afternoon with Kalaripayattu
22 October – London
Nehru Centre – Special Kathakali presentation
23 October – Slough
The Curve – Full company Kathakali performance
24 October – Milton Keynes
The Box Arts Club – Kathakali, Kalaripayattu and Mohiniattam
25 October – Lichfield
Garrick Studio Theatre – Full company Kathakali performance
28–30 October – Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Museum – Full company Kathakali performances
4 November – Exeter
Exeter Phoenix – Full company Kathakali performance
7 November – Bordon
Phoenix Arts – Full company Kathakali performance
10 November – Southampton
Mayflower Studio Theatre – Full company Kathakali performance and the tour’s concluding event
Also visit
https://www.kathakali.net/whats-on/event-dates
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