Through our distinct chapters—New Age Actors’ Theatre Group, NAAT Academy of Acting, PuppetPeople Assam, and NAAT Studio—NAAT Foundation continues to preserve Assam’s artistic heritage, train emerging artists, create thought-provoking performances, and amplify voices that often go unheard. Each chapter plays a crucial role in fulfilling our mission of using theatre and puppetry as tools for cultural revival, artistic innovation, and social change.
1. New Age Actors’ Theatre Group
New Age Actors’ Theatre Group is the theatre performance wing of NAAT Foundation. It focuses on experimental and socially relevant theatre productions that blend traditional Assamese theatre forms like Bhaona with contemporary storytelling techniques. Over the years, this group has staged numerous plays across Assam, addressing topics such as gender equality, domestic violence, environmental conservation, and rural empowerment. The group also collaborates with theatre practitioners from across India to push creative boundaries and bring fresh perspectives to Assamese theatre.
2. NAAT Academy of Acting
NAAT Academy of Acting is a training and education wing dedicated to nurturing new generations of actors, playwrights, and performers. The academy provides professional training in acting, voice modulation, body movement, scriptwriting, and improvisation. Workshops and certificate programs are conducted for theatre enthusiasts, students, and aspiring actors, helping them hone their craft and prepare for careers in stage, film, and television. The academy also conducts special training programs for rural youth, ensuring that traditional storytelling skills are preserved while empowering participants with professional theatre techniques.
3. PuppetPeople Assam
Founded in 2013 by Drishana Kalita, PuppetPeople Assam is the puppetry wing of NAAT Foundation, specializing in reviving the traditional folk puppetry of Assam—Putola Naas. Under the creative direction of Manash Protim Neog, this chapter has pioneered the use of puppetry as a tool for education, cultural preservation, and social change. The team conducts performances and workshops across Assam, training children, young artists, and rural women in puppet-making, storytelling, and manipulation techniques. PuppetPeople Assam’s initiatives include:
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Performing folk stories with Putola Naas to keep Assamese folklore alive.
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Using puppetry to spread awareness on issues like early marriage, girls’ education, and menstrual hygiene.
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Training young women in puppetry to create a new generation of female-led Putola Naas practitioners.
Through Puppetshala and other outreach programs, PuppetPeople Assam is ensuring that this ancient art form continues to evolve while remaining relevant to today’s audiences.
4. NAAT Studio
NAAT Studio serves as the creative production hub for all of NAAT Foundation’s artistic endeavors. It is a dedicated space for film and video production, set and prop design, and multimedia storytelling. The studio produces short films, digital puppetry content, and theatre recordings that reach wider audiences beyond live performances. NAAT Studio also collaborates with filmmakers, musicians, and visual artists to create interdisciplinary works that blend theatre, puppetry, and digital media.