The students of Prachyanaut School of Acting and Design staged Shakespeare’s Coriolanus in the contemporary local setting at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Monday.
When the titular character of the original Shakespearean historical play is Roman leader Caius Marcius Coriolanus, young director ABS Xem narrates the story depicting the life of a university student in contemporary Bangladesh.
Protagonist of Xem’s adapted play Samir wins an award representing his university at a dance competition, however, the university does not recognise his talent that offends the dancer. Subsequently Samir starts behaving arrogant. In reaction the university rusticates the student.
Samir enrolls with another university and participates in another competition on behalf of his latest university. Watching his performance at the competition, his former university authorities realise their mistake.
‘I just wanted to show that the game of power has been played by the influential people as expressed in Shakespeare’s play. This kind of practice is still prevailing within the society even today,’ said Xem.
The play was staged following the certificate awarding ceremony of the 25th batch students of Prachyanaut School of Acting and Design. Noted theatre activists Ashis Khondkar and Tropa Majumdar were present at the programme as special guest.
Prachyanaut School of Acting and Design, which trains interested people in acting and designing, is a sister concern of popular theatre troupe Prachyanaut.
-With New Age input
