Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy officials claim that their intention of organising this year’s national theatre festival is to introduce the
students with the history of rebellion.
‘We have selected rebellions took place during the British colonial era as the key feature of the theatre performances in the festival,’ director general of the academy Liaquat Ali Lucky told New Age.
‘Last year, we organised a similar festival highlighting the spirit of the war of independence in 1971,’ he added.
Organised by the academy, the festival titled Swapna O Drohoer Jatiyo Natyautsab features 64 theatre plays from the Shilpakala-based and college-based theatre troupes from 64 districts.
Theme of this festival is mutiny and most of the featured plays such as Danesh Upakhan, Nil Baithak, Azadir Jhanda are based on rebellion against British colonial power.
On the fifth day of the festival, six plays were staged at three venues of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Monday.
Government Michael Madhusudhan College from Jessore and Potuwakhili Government Collage staged respectively Jornina O Pachjan and Satiner Saraj at the National Theatre hall.
Manchya Katha and Krishna Pakkha were staged respectively by Jhalakathi district Shilpakala Academy and Norail Government Collage at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Sahma Sagar and Azadir Jahnda were staged respectively by Rajshahi Collage and Carmichael Collage from Rangpur at the National Music and Dance Center.
‘We wanted to do a visual documentary of the historical movements. The playwrights and directors have given emphasis on the local history during the British colonial era. They were free to work on their topic and we gave them the guideline and technical support,’ Ali Ahmed Mukul, assistant director of film and theatre department of BSA, told New Age.
‘It took four months for producing plays suitable for the festival in Dhaka. And it was not so easy to get playwrights and directors who can produce such original plays in a short notice,’ he added.
The organisers believe that the students will learn the glorious history participating in the plays.
-With New Age input
