The Indian National Theatre Trust was established on 15th February 1958. Mrs. Sheila Bharat Ram was the spirit behind this venture and has been the chief architect of INTT’s rise to eminence in the promotion of Art and Culture, along with Mrs.Kamla Devi Chattopadhyay and Mrs. Nandita Kriplani.
The Trust was set up by the Indian National Theatre society, and its first trustees were Shri T.T.Krisnamachari, Shri Bharat Ram, Shri G.L.Bansal, Shrimati Sucheta Kriplani and Shri K.K.Birla.
The trust was vested with the responsibility of developing and mantaining the allotted property for the promotion of Art and Culture. The Shri Ram Centre, which became functional in the early ‘60’s, was designed by Mr. Shiv Nath Prasad with help from Mr. Alkazi, and constructed under the overall supervision of Shri Vinay Bharat Ram. The design of the Auditorium is considered unique, in that the distance between the performing artistes and the audience is very small, which is ideal for theatre.
The INTT has supported Societies like the Shri Ram Centre for Art & Culture and the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts in their activities related to the promotion of theatre, music, puppetry, cultural melas, poetry and other forms of artistic and literary activity.
It has made its auditorium available to Theatre Repertories including Children’s Theatre groups at concessional rates and on Sundays.
In 1978, the Basement in the Shri Ram Centre was converted into a fully equipped theatre with flexible seating and performing areas, making it ideal for experimental plays. The Basement Theatre with its facilities, ambience and special concessions and support for fledgling theatre companies soon became a second home to Delhi’s theatre community.
In furtherance of its objective of creating and maintaining premises for the enjoyment and celebration of the aritistic experience, in 1983 the INTT opened a bookshop devoted to Hindi literature in its main Foyer.
The auditorium and all facilities have been renovated from time to time. In the year 2000, the sound system in the auditorium was upgraded to a state-of-the-art facility making the auditorium ideally suited for Music Performances also.