The experimental Nepali theater production “Saabiti: Not Guilty” has been rescheduled for June and September at The Tank in Manhattan after a postponement in April, according to the production team. The play, written and directed by Bimal Subedi, is set for June 5 at 7 p.m., June 6 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and a special showcase in September 2026, with additional touring plans under discussion.
Originally slated for an April 26 premiere, the production was delayed because of unforeseen cast-related issues during final preparations, the team said. Subedi said the company chose to take more time to strengthen the work rather than rush it to stage.
Inspired by Jagadish Ghimire’s Nepali novel “Saabiti,” the play explores patriarchy, gender injustice, identity and women’s resistance through physical and visual storytelling. The production is billed as one of the first large-scale Nepali literary works staged in New York’s mainstream theater scene.
The show is produced by Nepali-American cultural advocate Amit Pratap Shah and distributed worldwide by Ankur Sharma, in collaboration with The Tank, Theatre Village Nepal, APAN Foundation USA and the Consulate General of Nepal in New York. Shah called the production a cultural milestone for the Nepali diaspora and a step toward placing Nepali literature on the global stage.
The production team said performances outside New York are being planned before October 2026, including possible stops in Harrisburg, Columbus and Chicago. Subedi, whose previous work “Hitler Is Coming” drew attention in the off-Broadway scene, has said the project aims to expand the presence of Nepali theater in mainstream American performing arts.
Susan Shrestha
View More PostsSusan Shrestha is a Europe-based journalist. He covers a wide range of topics, from local matters to global affairs. Shrestha previously worked as a reporter for Khasokhas in Nepal.
