The lights dim. A hush falls over the auditorium. The curtain rises. Welcome to Nautanki Theatre.
Founded in 2012, Nautanki has brought to life cultural storytelling in a South Asian context. They present thoughtful and immersive experiences to Australian stages, with a focus on a sense of belonging, understanding and introspection in their performances. More than just a not-for-profit performing arts organisation, Nautanki is an artistic platform for South Asian talent, uniting creatives and offering them the opportunity to showcase unique creative skills.
MEET THE TEAM

Neel Banerjee
Neel Banerjee is an intercultural theatre practitioner based in Sydney, Australia. An emerging creative leader in Western Sydney, Neel was born and raised in India; currently lives on the Darug land as a 1st generation settler. His work involves cultural development, burgeoning theatregoers, community capacity building, education and training through live performing theatre. Neel works extensively amongst culturally and linguistically diverse actors, creatives and audiences. His creative development combines personal and the political, ritualistic and physical theatre. As an artist, Neel is interested in a collaborative and interrelation approach to theatre development. Under his creative leadership in the last decade, Nautanki Theatre Co. has presented a body of work that validates the South Asian diasporic experience in Australia. Nominated for Parramatta Citizen of the Year 2023 for his contribution to arts & community, Neel has recently completed his international residency in Bangladesh (FEB’ 2023), International Producers Training offered by Powerhouse Museum and Factory International, UK (AUG’ 2023). Neel is selected for the prestigious Emerging Leadership Program offered by McKinsey & Company through Australian Scholarship Federation (OCT’ 2023). He reads and writes Bangla, Hindi, Marathi and English, and works locally as well join forces in the Asia Pacific region.
Neel’s work involves: (a) spreading theatre among the South Asian immigrant community, (b) bringing untold stories to the Australian stage using South Asian Theatre aesthetics, and (c) using theatre as a device to propagate awareness on various issues affecting communities.

Shabnam Tavakol
Shabnam is a versatile and experienced stage and film performer of over 20 years, received several excellent theatre reviews of her work. Her recent credit is playing the famous antagonist Stepmother in the sell-out show “Sunderalla”, a queer Bollywood retelling of Cinderella at ARA Darlinghurst Quarter Theatre. One of her fondest roles is her solo performance of ‘Paradise Now’ combining spoken poetry, puppetry, and dance.
Shabnam is Australian-raised, with mixed Iranian and Indian heritage, and comes with a mixed bag of performance craft. She trained under industry professionals from the Actors Centre Australia and Horizon Theatre Company’s School of Puppetry and Visual Performing Arts. She is also an awarded Indian dancer and believes her Indian Classical Dance training gave her solid acting foundations such as harnessing the power of expressions, the body, and stage presence. Shabnam can’t wait to play Sonal again with Nautanki Theatre.
As an actor and Principal puppeteer with Horizon’s core troupe of actors Shabnam toured Europe and Asia, where the team was multi-awarded. Her puppetry skills have also received acclaim from theatre critics here in Sydney. She enjoys playing amusing characters in short films, recently playing ‘Vera’ in ‘Grace’ a film based on true events. The film earned a place as a finalist in several international film festivals and won numerous categories, including Best Acting Ensemble.

Avijit Sarkar
Avijit is a polymath from Sydney Australia, is a skilled musician, composer, illustrator, cartoonist, writer, poet, puppeteer and philanthropist. He is endorsed by the Australian Performing Rights Association as a music composer and writer and has lent his voice to many recordings in Australia and India. Avijit is the Director of Natraj Academy in Sydney. He is a recipient of the Australia Day Award 2020 for his contribution to Art and Culture.