Bengaluru
oi-Madhuri Adnal
As brands look for new ways to stand out in an online space flooded with AI-generated content, Bengaluru-based employee healthcare and benefits platform Onsurity has turned to an unlikely medium i.e theatre. The company recently launched Office Drama, which it describes as India’s first theatre-led workplace storytelling IP.
The event brought together nine theatre groups from across Bengaluru, each presenting original plays inspired by life at work. From office gossip and difficult managers to burnout, career breaks and workplace relationships, the performances drew from situations familiar to employees across industries.
Bengaluru-based Onsurity launched “Office Drama”, India’s first theatre-led workplace storytelling initiative, showcasing original plays by nine groups exploring work life realities, judged by actors Chandan Roy and Rajeev Mehta, aiming to build a long-term cultural property.
The audience, which included founders, HR leaders, CXOs, creators and members of the media, responded with laughter, applause and moments of reflection as many recognised aspects of their own professional lives on stage.
Some of the plays explored the challenges women face while returning to work after a career break. Others focused on workplace politics, team dynamics and the often-blurred boundaries between professional and personal life.
The inaugural edition was judged by actor Chandan Roy, best known for playing Vikas in Amazon Prime Video’s Panchayat, and Rajeev Mehta, who became a household name as Praful Parekh in the television sitcom Khichdi.
Apart from judging the performances, both actors spent time interacting with the participating theatre groups and spoke about the role of storytelling in reflecting everyday experiences.
The performances ranged from light-hearted comedies to emotionally charged narratives. While some plays poked fun at the quirks of office culture, others touched on issues that continue to shape the modern workplace.
Chandan Roy, said, “Every workplace has stories that deserve to be told, and theatre has a unique way of making those experiences feel real and relatable. I am excited to be part of an initiative that not only celebrates storytelling but also creates meaningful opportunities for theatre artists.”
Rajeev Mehta, said, “Theatre has always reflected society, and workplaces are one of the biggest parts of our lives today. Office Drama is a refreshing idea that encourages people to look at work through empathy, humour and honest conversations while giving theatre artists a larger platform.”
“Office Drama began with a simple belief that workplaces are made up of stories, not just systems and processes. We wanted to create a platform where those experiences could be interpreted through theatre while creating meaningful opportunities for India’s independent theatre community. Our investment goes beyond an event-we’re building a long-term cultural property that sparks better workplace conversations and supports creators along the way,” said Kulin Shah, Co-Founder & COO, Onsurity.
According to the company, Office Drama is planned as a long-term initiative rather than a standalone event. Participating theatre groups will continue creating workplace-themed stories and digital content in the months ahead.
“Traditional campaigns buy attention, but cultural properties build memory. Office Drama marks our shift from campaign-led marketing to platform-led brand building. Every performance will evolve into digital content over the coming months, making this a year-round storytelling platform rather than a one-time activation,” said Sourav Samadder, Associate Director – Brand & Communications, Onsurity.
The company also plans to take future editions of Office Drama to other startup hubs across the country, widening its engagement with conversations around workplace culture.
For the audience in Bengaluru, the event offered a break from the usual discussions around targets, deadlines and performance reviews, replacing them with stories that reflected the realities of working life.
