KARN: A Myth Reimagined From The Indian Mahabharata – An All-Women-Led Stage Spectacle Arrives In Dubai
KARN brings a pivotal arc from the Indian epic Mahabharata to the stage with original music, fierce choreography, and cinematic staging—led by a women-driven creative team and three female leads: Anita Nayyar, Gillian Rhides, and Rochelle Goodrick. The large-format production plays one day only on Sunday, February 15, 2026, with show at 7:00 PM.
This production is described as “like stepping inside a video game”. Karn: Warrior is produced by ANT Management with a raft of Dubai theatre notables – direction by Alex Broun, fight routines choreographed by Narsimha “Nattu” Chouhan, movement by Gillian Rhodes (who also stars), stunning big-screen LED visuals by Montel Goodrick Maiava, music by Daniel Faber…
Alex Broun described the show to us as “a uniquely modern take on the story”. It’s not just the video game setting: “most of the main characters in the Mahabharata are male, but we have cast three exceptional female actors to play all the roles. This brings a very different take on these legendary stories, highlighting moments and ideas that are often glossed over in other versions …” We’re promised that “Karn: Warrior is fast moving, explosive and highly entertaining 60 minutes – it will literally be leaping off the QE2 stage. One you definitely shouldn’t miss.”
There are multiple characters but just three actors. Newcomer Anita Nayyar plays Karn; Rochelle Goodrick is Arjun, Karn’s arch enemy, and takes other roles including Duroydhan, his benefactor; Gillian Rhodes plays more than 10 different parts ranging from an eight-year-old girl to an 80-year-old guru. The production blends precision fight design, ensemble movement, and an original score to create an immersive “big-screen energy—live.”
“We asked how to retell a story we think we know and make it feel urgent again,” says Anita Nayyar, concept lead and principal performer. “KARN is about courage, consequence, and the price of loyalty—told with bodies in motion and music you feel in your chest.”
What audiences can expect
- Action-driven choreography with three female leads at the center
- Original score moving from intimate motifs to thunderous battle cues
- Cinematic visuals—bold lighting, layered costumes, striking stage pictures
- A human core: a story of choice, loyalty, and the weight of honor
Official Media Partner: Filmfare Middle East
Event Details
Date: Sunday, February 15th, 2026
Showtimes: 7:00 PM
Tickets: Platinumlist — https://dubai.platinumlist.net/event-tickets/103321/karn-at-theatre-by-qe2
(Premium and VIP seating are limited.)