What We Built and What Comes Next - Post Irshad '25 Reflections

We can’t quite believe that the first Bargad Fellowship has come to an end. A tiny seed that we sowed in the beginning of 2024 is growing and flourishing and we could not be happier. A year of ideating, planning, re-planning, getting stuck, starting again, and finally getting there with a little help from our friends.

We wrapped up the first ever Bargad fellowship with five shows at OddBird Theatre. This was the culmination of four months of training followed by an intensive six week process filled with curiosity, questioning, uncertainty, risk and so much joy.

It ended the way it needed to, with a chance for us to share our dream and for the fellows to showcase their journey. Friends, families, mentors, peers, and brand new audiences filled the room and we are so grateful for the love, support and encouragement.

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Reflecting on our training

Over the past five months, we found our own rhythm. Sitting in circles, talking about things we didn’t always have words for. Writing stuff down, scratching it out, writing again. Rehearsals that went nowhere, and then, somehow, somewhere. We laughed a lot. Got stuck. Argued. Got unstuck. And slowly, something started to take shape.

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Some moments we're holding on to -

• The very first group circle.

• The strange joy of failing at an exercise and laughing through it.

• Sharing personal stories and watching them be shaped into little pieces of theatre.

• Learning to work with lights, sound and space.

• The first time an audience applauded.

• Five shows, five full rooms.

What's Next?

Even though the fellowship has ended, the work doesn’t stop here.

We’re now getting ready for Bargad ka Chabutra, a post-programme space where Bargad Fellows, Aagaaz Repertory members and other collaborators will come together. The aim is to continue to support graduating fellows with access to space, mentors and resources to help realise brand new original work from exciting new voices. There are performances planned for early next year and we will be sure to keep you posted!

We’re also looking ahead to the next batch of Bargad Fellows, and to the many new stories that will come with them. Work on the Bargad 2026 Fellowship has already begun!