The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company brings Kathakali, the classical dance drama of Kerala, to the UK with a pre-show demonstration of the make-up.
The Kala Chethena Kathakali Company bring Kathakali to the Auditorium at Exeter Phoenix on Wednesday 4 November, with actors and musicians from Kerala. Kathakali is the classical dance drama of Kerala, south India, and one of the most distinct forms of theatre in the world: it draws on 4,000-year-old gestures, characters and storytelling, and its make-up is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the most three-dimensional in the world. The company brought the art to the UK in 1987 and made Southampton its base, and it bills itself as the leading Kathakali group outside India.
The performance runs without speech. The story is told through facial expression, eye movement and hand gestures, carried by live singers and drummers. If you've never seen it before, there's a pre-show demonstration where you can watch the make-up being applied, see the costumes and meet the artists, and a short film traces the art's origins. The tour is supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
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It starts at 7.30pm at the Auditorium, Exeter Phoenix, Gandy Street, EX4 3LS. Tickets are £15, with a £13 concession.
Date
Wednesday, 4 November 2026
19:30
Location
Auditorium, Exeter PhoenixPrice
Paid
Recommended Age
+14 years
