Rangayana is a state-supported repertory theatre institute based in Mysuru (Mysore), Karnataka, India. It functions as a centre for the practice, training and study of theatre, with a particular focus on Kannada-language productions and Indian theatrical traditions. Rangayana is among the most prominent theatre repertories in southern India and has played a notable role in shaping contemporary Kannada theatre.
| Name | Rangayana |
|---|---|
| Type | Repertory theatre institute |
| Location | Mysuru, Karnataka, India |
| Primary language | Kannada |
| Field | Theatre, performing arts, drama training |
Rangayana was established as a permanent repertory company to provide a stable institutional base for theatre practitioners in Karnataka. It is associated with the legacy of the playwright and director B. V. Karanth, who was instrumental in shaping its early identity and artistic direction. The institute is housed on a campus in Mysuru that includes performance spaces, rehearsal halls and facilities for design and production work.
The work of Rangayana spans several streams of theatre activity:
Rangayana is regarded as one of the few sustained repertory institutions in India where theatre practitioners can work as full-time, salaried artists. It has contributed to the professionalisation of Kannada theatre, the development of a body of contemporary Kannada plays, and the training of actors and directors who have gone on to work in theatre, cinema and television. Its festival Bahuroopi has become a regular fixture in the Indian theatre calendar.
Following the model of the Mysuru centre, the Government of Karnataka has supported the establishment of additional Rangayana units in other parts of the state, including centres associated with cities such as Dharwad, Shivamogga and Kalaburagi, in order to extend repertory theatre activity across Karnataka.