A sign outside the door of the Thespo office reads ‘Be Dramatic’. Inside, a bunch of 20 somethings are busy working on Excel sheets, checking the design of posters and readying themselves for the big day. On July 18, the festival of theatre for the under-25 will host an orientation at Prithvi Theatre. “The orientation day is good fun,” says a cheery 38-year-old Quasar Thakore Padamsee, who started the festival in 1999 along with four friends — Arghya Lahiri, Chris Samuel, Nadir Khan, Toral Shah. As he settles down beside Shah with a cup of hot coffee, he’s looking forward to new beginnings.

Thespo brochures from 1999 to date