Theatre in Asia
Plays highlight liberal values
The organisers chose four plays for the holiday audience on Friday (June 1). Nevertheless the absence of any popular or overseas plays was a major lacuna.
An international seminar on the diverse theatre practices in Asia throughout the day along with staging of four plays at three different venues in the evening at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy marked a busy day at the ongoing “International Theatre Festival, Seminar and Workshop”.
Organised by the Bangladesh Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI), the festival sees its final day today.
Natyam staged its debut production “Domer Madar” at the Experimental Theatre Hall. Based on an ancient folk narrative, the play has been written by Sadhana Ahmed and directed by Irin Parveen.
The play upholds liberal values about religious practices in this land. The cast included Tazmi Noor, Shishir Rahman, Parvin Akhter, Shamima Akhter, Fazle Rabbi and Jannatul Ferdous. Junaid Eusuf did the lights while Parimal Majumder was the music director of the play.
Loko Natyadal(Banani) staged Tagore adaptation “Baikunther Khata” at the National Theatre Hall. The play, produced last year as a tribute to the poet on his 150th birth anniversary, has been directed by Kamrun Noor Chowdhury.
The story revolves around an intrinsic essayist Baikuntha, who has a passion for writing on music and history. However, his family members find the work meaningless. Things start to change when a witty man Kedar appears on the scene and starts to praise Baikuntha’s literary works.
Khairul Alam, Jahidur Rahman, Basudev and Abdullah Harun, among others, did the lead roles.
District Shilpakala Academies from Rajbari and Narayanganj staged “Mukhomukhi” and “Baktabali” at the Studio Theatre Hall. Fakir Jahidul Islam directed the Rajbari play, while Shoeb Monir was the director of the Liberation War based play “Baktabali”.
The International Seminar highlighted four papers. Professor Afsar Ahmed, Jahangirnagar University; Professor Israfil Shahin, Dhaka University; Professor Pudentia from Indonesia and Professor Chua Soo Pong, University of Osaka, Japan presented their papers. All the papers significantly dealt with the theme of the festival, “Theatre in Asia, Asia in Theatre”.
Today, Fujairah Cultural and Media Authority, UAE will present “The Pianist” at the National Theatre Hall. Department of Theatre, DU will stage folk ballad “Bhelua” at the Experimental Theatre Hall, while Shabdo Natyacharcha Kendra will stage “Rifle” at the Studio Theatre Hall.
-With The Daily Star input
