Exhibition, live performances and cultural workshops offer a rare opportunity to experience Kerala’s traditional arts
Milton Keynes is becoming an important destination for the celebration of Kerala’s rich cultural heritage this autumn, with an exhibition of traditional costumes and artefacts, live performances and educational workshops introducing audiences to some of South India’s most distinctive art forms.
Organised by the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company, the programme brings together Kathakali, Mohiniattam, Bharatanatyam, Theyyam and Kalaripayattu, offering visitors an opportunity to discover the artistic traditions, stories and cultural practices that have shaped Kerala’s identity over centuries.
The centrepiece of the programme is the Kerala exhibition at Milton Keynes Museum, which opened on 23 September and continues until 7 November 2026. The exhibition is complemented by a major evening performance on Saturday, 24 October, at The Box Arts Club, Arts Central Studios, Milton Keynes.
A rare collection of Kerala’s artistic treasures
The exhibition at Milton Keynes Museum presents an impressive collection of traditional costumes, photographs and artefacts that reveal the extraordinary diversity of Kerala’s performing arts.
One of its most remarkable features is a collection of complete Kathakali costume sets, described by the organisers as unique examples held outside India. The elaborate headdresses incorporate intricate woodcarving, with some sections dating back more than 200 years.
The costumes are not merely decorative. Their colours, shapes and ornaments help identify characters and convey their personalities, while elaborate facial makeup transforms performers into gods, kings, heroes and demons. Every detail contributes to the dramatic storytelling that makes Kathakali one of the world’s most visually striking theatrical traditions.
The exhibition also explores the graceful movements of Mohiniattam, the classical dance-drama of Bharatanatyam, the spectacular ritual tradition of Theyyam and the athletic discipline of Kalaripayattu, Kerala’s traditional martial art.
Together, these displays provide a fascinating insight into the relationship between performance, spirituality, craftsmanship and community life in Kerala.
According to the organisers, the Kathakali costumes will eventually join the South Asian Costume Collection at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, adding further significance to the opportunity to see them in Milton Keynes.
Kathakali comes alive on stage
The cultural programme continues on Saturday, 24 October, when the Kala Chethena Kathakali Company presents an evening of traditional performance at The Box Arts Club, Arts Central Studios.
The programme, scheduled from 7.30 pm to 10.30 pm, features Kathakali alongside presentations of Mohiniattam and Kalaripayattu. It offers audiences a chance to experience the combination of dance, drama, music, rhythmic movement and expressive acting that distinguishes Kerala’s classical performance traditions.
For audiences unfamiliar with the art form, the performance offers an opportunity to appreciate not only its visual splendour but also the discipline, training and dramatic skill required to bring its characters to life.
Meeting the artists and discovering the traditions
The programme at Milton Keynes Museum extends beyond the exhibition itself. Earlier events introduced visitors to Kerala’s culture and the history of Kalaripayattu, while further special Kathakali sessions are scheduled for 28, 29 and 30 October.
Visitors will be able to observe the traditional makeup process between 10 am and 12.30 pm, followed by performances from 2 pm to 4 pm and opportunities to ask questions.
These sessions offer a particularly valuable educational experience. Kathakali makeup is a painstaking process requiring specialist knowledge and considerable patience. The distinctive facial designs, including the carefully constructed white framework known as chutti, are essential to the transformation of the actor into the character.
The exhibition and associated activities are supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, helping make Kerala’s cultural heritage accessible to a wider public.
Kala Chethena’s contribution to cultural understanding
The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company was founded in 1987 by Kalamandalam Vijayakumar, a Kathakali actor, and Kalamandalam Barbara Vijayakumar, a specialist in Kathakali makeup.
For nearly four decades, the company has worked to introduce this traditional art form to audiences across Britain through performances, demonstrations, workshops and exhibitions.
Its work has helped make Kathakali accessible to people from different cultural backgrounds, including schoolchildren, theatre enthusiasts and those encountering Kerala’s classical arts for the first time.
The programme promises a memorable celebration of Kerala’s artistic heritage and a meaningful cultural connection between South India and Britain.
Event information
- Kerala exhibition: Milton Keynes Museum, 23 September–7 November 2026.
- Kathakali, Mohiniattam and Kalaripayattu: The Box Arts Club, Arts Central Studios, Milton Keynes, Saturday, 24 October, 7.30 pm.
- Kathakali demonstrations and performances: Milton Keynes Museum, 28–30 October, makeup demonstrations from 10 am to 12.30 pm, followed by performances from 2 pm to 4 pm.
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