The eight-day national theatre festival will end today through staging of 11 plays at the four venues of the academy.
Organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the festival titled Swapna O Drohoer Jatiyo Natyautsab featured 64 theatre plays in total from 64 districts. Of the participating troupes, 52 were colleges from 52 districts. Students of different institutes also performed in the plays staged by the 12 district Shilpakala academies in the festival.
Dhaka audience expressed their satisfaction after watching the plays, mostly featuring the struggles and revolution of common Bengalis throughout history for the independence of their land and its people.
The academy has been highly appreciated for taking such initiative where district college students keen in theatre arts, got the exposure at a national level.
‘Introducing and involving students across the country into this media is a praiseworthy initiative. This festival should help boost their confidence to produce quality production at district levels’, remarked Khan Mohammad Rafique, a theatre department student of Dhaka University.
‘It is known that artistes who have performed here don’t get the necessary support back home. They are talented and passionate about theatre, which they have proved through their extraordinary performances. Most of the participants are performing for the first time at a national level which is a huge inspiration for them and this should continue in the future,’ said Muna Ahmed, a theatre activist who has watched over 15 plays at the festival.
Theatre director Mohammad Bari, who has reviewed several scripts and plays staged at the festival, observed, ‘Compared to the plays in the previous festival based on the theme of the war of independence, there has been a big improvement in the script of the plays this time and more sincerity in the work.’
‘Theoretical approach and experimental works have also been noticed in many plays. Some of the college students, particularly those from Barisal, Sunamgang and Munshigang have performed really well’, he added.
‘There has been a tendency in the troupes to rectify their previous mistakes. Reviewing scripts before selection by famous playwrights like Abdullah Al Mamun, Mannnan Hira have also helped to improve the scripts of plays in this festival,’ said Debashish Ghosh, another theatre critic and director.
‘Broader theme and more freedom in choice for subject brought more variation into the plays. For instance Jhalokathi College’s play where they visualised the story of theatre in United Bengal during the colonial era is worth mentioning.’
BSA informed that they have sent a proposal to Finance ministry for staging the plays at a district level. They believe this initiative will help the artistes to become more regular in theatre.
-With New Age input
