Honoring the late Sungu Dudi, KITFest Trust's Marketing & Sponsorship Officer, posthumously named the Face of KITFest 2026. Sungu played a transformative role in reshaping the festival's creative direction, public identity, and voice most notably during KITFest@10 and the County Theatre Fiesta. We celebrate his lasting legacy, quiet brilliance, and profound impact on the Kenyan theatre community.
Immerse yourself in a curated collection of extraordinary performances spanning two magical weeks. From intimate acoustic sessions to grand theatrical spectacles, discover the artistry that brings our festival to life.
Each performance has been carefully selected to showcase the diverse talents and creative expressions that define our cultural celebration.
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Unlock your creative potential with interactive, hands-on workshops led by seasoned industry experts, visionary directors, and master practitioners.
Designed for emerging artists, seasoned performers, and enthusiasts alike, these masterclasses offer invaluable insights into performance technique, storytelling, stagecraft, and the business of theatre.
A masterclass in the craft of directing focused on seeing, hearing, and creating differently to drive the entire production journey up to opening night. It is structured as a lecture-demonstration covering the text, communication, developing a production concept, and placing special emphasis on directing the actor's performance using pre-memorized texts.
A session sharing insights on the professional training and practice of acting, emphasizing actor training to avoid typecasting, demonstrating range and depth, the discipline of preparation, maintaining a strong professional reputation, and adapting acting techniques to different genres.
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Practical, interactive workshop introducing the Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) and CIMS Stokvel models. Focuses on moving from isolated marketing to collective audience development across three applications: Independent Producers, Art Centres, and Festivals. Includes sessions on the African creative landscape and creating actionable audience development commitments
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A pedagogy and workshop rooted in Kutiyattam and contemporary performance training that addresses the balance between preserving tradition and finding new expressive possibilities. It focuses on internalizing Kutiyattam principles to emerge through an imaginative and responsive body, exploring the relationship between the personal, actor's, and character bodies through physical exercises and performance explorations to bridge classical principles with contemporary practice.
A candid, experience-driven workshop for emerging theatre artists on what it really takes to sustain a career in the arts beyond landing individual roles. The session will draw on the facilitator's own journey navigating Kenya's theatre industry from early apprenticeship under seasoned professionals to building a multi-pronged career spanning performance, teaching, directing, and theatre management. Participants will explore how to diversify their skills and income within the arts, build a durable professional reputation, and navigate the structural realities of Kenya's theatre economy leaving with practical insight into building a career, not just chasing a break.
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This immersive masterclass explores the intersection of sacred traditions, world music fusion, and cross-cultural dialogue through performance. Led by Israeli musician, cultural director, and peace activist Gil Ron Shama (co-founder of Sheva and creator of Cafe Jallal), the workshop introduces students to the blending of Middle Eastern, sacred, and traditional arrangements with modern soundscapes. Participants will examine global collaboration techniques, improvisation, and musical storytelling as tools for cultural exchange. Through hands-on rehearsal during the session, participants will work directly alongside Gil Ron Shama to co-create and arrange a live 10-minute collaborative showcase performance combining Middle Eastern melodies with Kenyan musical traditions.
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A poetic workshop to center and focus on the things we often take for granted, but would not exist without. We all have dreams and goals, but sometimes it's the little things that we don't even think about that make all the difference.
You can participate in KITFest through the following ways: trainees, volunteers, audiences, vendors and partners.
The focus of our shows and events is on the development of Kenyan theatre. Through international performances and training and workshops, we strive to enhance theatre through new ideas and progressive steps.
Apart from theatrical performances, the festival provides attendees with a variety of different experiences. Most activities at KITFest are curated to promote fun, knowledge sharing, collaboration, and cultural exchange.
With our partners, we have the resources necessary to stage a festival of the highest quality and deliver the incredible experiences we always strive to provide. You can be part of the amazing organizations that have supported KITFest over the years.
From humble beginnings to global reach, the story of KITFest dates back to the year 2013, when the festival was just an idea on our founder's mind. Explore the progress KITFest has made and the promise of a powerful future by going on a journey through time. Coming soon.
It is the efforts of many individuals and organizations that make this festival possible each year. KITFest's success depends, however, heavily on the main management team that provides vision and leadership. The teams' profiles coming up soon.
KITFest Programs bring together diverse artistic initiatives that promote theatre, cultural exchange, and creative expression across Kenya and beyond. From large-scale festivals to specialized training and mentorship programs, each initiative empowers artists to grow, connect, and share stories with the world.
