✦ An archive of the 2026 Dimapur production ✦
A Winter Night’sDreamThe Musical
An editorial chapter of the Winter Night’s identity, slower motion, richer atmosphere, and cinematic stillness from Kohima toward Dimapur.
Dimapur · 13th–14th June 2026 · That’s a wrap
A story that carries deep cultural values and weaves together themes of love, loss, and sacrifice.
Love, loss, and sacrifice — carried from the rhythms of village life to the stage.
Winter Night’s Dream — The Musical is inspired by the Sümi folktale Nisapa and Nisala, a story that carries deep cultural values and weaves together themes of love and loss, social hierarchy, supernatural beliefs, honour, and sacrifice.
Emerging from the rhythms of village life, it reflects the worldview of our ancestors and the choices that shaped their lives. Through this musical, the performers seek to present the story in a way that allows its meaning, emotion, and cultural essence to be experienced and understood by audiences today.
Atüna Shikhu
Music · Lyrics · Director · Producer
A reclaiming of belonging and a breath returned to a fading heritage.
“I believe this musical is more than a performance: it is a heartfelt attempt to restore a sense of belonging to our land and revive a tradition that was slowly fading away.”
Rooted in oral storytelling, it brings together songs that echo ancestral voices, acts that reflect our people’s way of life, and dramatic moments drawn from our shared history.
Preserving oral traditions feels deeply urgent: a fragile narrative form, returned to its original essence: something to be heard, felt, and shared together.
In a time when rapid modernisation threatens to erode our cultural foundations, preserving oral traditions feels deeply urgent. Re‑imagining this folktale as a musical is a conscious effort to protect and carry forward a fragile narrative form by presenting it in a way that today’s generation can experience and connect with. Through music, movement, and performance, the story returns to its original essence: something to be heard, felt, and shared together.
For me, this production is a way of honouring the Naga oral tradition and paying tribute to the voices of our ancestors. It is my hope that by bringing this story back to life on stage, those voices will continue to resonate, inspire, and remain alive in the hearts of generations to come.
From oral memory to the next city stage.
Nagaland · Kohima → Dimapur·© OpenStreetMap contributors
Kohima Chapters,in thirty‑five frames.
Stills from the inaugural staging, costume, lighting, and choreography held in stillness.
A core team and an ensemble. One winter night.
The creative leads who shape the production, and the twelve musicians who give the score its live voice.
✦ Testimonials ✦
In their own words.
It is truly remarkable to see our very own Naga folklore come alive on stage in musical form. Productions like this not only entertain but also help preserve and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of our people. I commend the talented Atüna Shikhu and her team for their creativity, effort, and dedication in bringing this story to life.
I thoroughly enjoyed the musical. The creativity, discipline, and attention to detail were evident throughout. For a first production, it was remarkably refined — the music, performances, and technical execution were all thoughtfully done. The minimal use of props and backdrops was tasteful and effective. So proud of Atüna and her entire crew. One encouraging thing I noticed was that many of the background crew members were female, which was truly inspiring to see. It’s wonderful to witness the younger generation carrying the craft forward. The future of Naga music looks promising.
I truly enjoyed the Winter Nights Dream musical. The production was absolutely impressive and has really raised the bar for musical performances and music standards in Nagaland. It’s amazing to see a Nagaland-based production delivered at such an international level. Wishing the entire team even greater height ahead — I can’t wait to see what you create next!
✦ The Next Chapter ✦
Dimapur
That’s a wrap.
Dimapur · 13th & 14th June 2026
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