Theatre troupe Mohakal Natya Sampraday premiered its latest production Prometheus on Friday at the National Theatre Hall of
Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Though the play has once been staged at a theatre festival, yesterday it was the formal premiere of the play as the troupe’s 30th production.
The play is an adaptation of the ancient Greek tragedy Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus. Anan Zaman adapted the play while Mostafijur Nur Imran directed it.
In his adaptation Anan Zaman took recourses not only from Aeschylus’ Prometheus Bound, but also from other myths and stories on Prometheus.
The play features Prometheus’ defiance of the gods and how he helps the mortals even when his actions bring him under the wrath of the gods.
The adapted play begins with the conspiracy of Zeus to take over the throne of heaven. The play also shows Prometheus’ courageous actions like bringing fire and consciousness for men from the high Olympus.
Zaman ends his version of the play with Prometheus being bound, but with the indication that he cannot be bound for long. With his freedom, the freedom of the human beings will also be achieved.
‘Prometheus was a Titan in his action, and in his defiance of the gods he looks more like the evil forces,’ said Anan Zaman.
‘I have tried to make the piece contemporary by making Prometheus a figure who can infuse a higher level of consciousness and conscience into the commoners,’ added the playwright.
A number of spontaneous actors of Mohakal Natya Sampraday made the production enjoyable for the audience. Young actor Imtu played the role of Prometheus, while Shanewaz enacted the role of Zeus.
Other casts include Mir Zahid Hasan, Syed Lutfar Rahman, Poli Biswas, Shikha Das, Iqbal Chowdhury, Habibur Rahman Habib, and Syed Ferdous Iqram.
Thandu Raihan and Ali Ahmed Mukul respectively did the light and set for the production.
-With New Age input
