How did you get involved with the stage and direction in particular?

I have always been interested in the stage. As a child every week I wrote a play. As I grew older I learnt to dance and took part in competitions in Old Time, Ballroom and Latin American dancing.

I love amateur dramatics, which allows a fusion of dance and drama. I have been involved with a number of groups both in the UK, in Brussels and here in Dhaka. 1995 I joined the Pantoloons group in Brussels and worked as a stage manager and sound engineer on several large productions. I also worked with the Brussels Shakespeare Company, training their stage manager, whilst working on The Merchant of Venice. I have been on the committee of Dhaka Stage for nearly three years.

I drifted into direction. It is a joy to find myself directing The Importance of Being Earnest.

Was it easy to combine your busy schedule at the British High Commission office with the direction of the play?

To do anything of this nature requires great organisation, lots of patience and plenty of stamina! Being organised is the key. Allocate a certain amount of time to each task and be clear about what you wish to do and why. I am lucky--I have an excellent producer, Mary Fitzgerald, and assistant director, Teri Khan, who complete my team. They have made directing the play an easier task.

Does Dhaka Stage have any criteria for choosing a play?

No set policy is in operation. We usually ask our members if they have any proposals for plays. Those thought feasible are taken forward, others not. We have a very diverse membership, but often it is only a few members who come forward with ideas. We would love more of our members to take an active role in our productions. I know that we have been criticised for the choice of some of the plays in the past.

How does this comedy compare with the other light-hearted plays staged by your group before?

Very well! It is a widely known play, written by a very talented and well-known playwright. It is not farce such as Foreplays last year but gentle comedy. Dhaka Stage has performed it in the past and it is always well received.

What is the plot of your play The Importance of Being Earnest?

Jack Worthing, who lives in the country, pretends to have a younger brother, Ernest, whose escapades frequently call Jack to London. Algernon Moncrief pretends to have an invalid friend, Bunbury, whose attacks of sickness call Algernon into the country whenever there is a distasteful social function in prospect. This activity Algernon refers to as 'Bunburying'.

The stage is thus set for confusion and comedy, particularly when the protagonists fall in love and want to get married. In the end, everything falls in place for the characters.

How did you go about choosing the cast; what sort of experience did the actors have?

I knew the actors of the Dhaka Stage and made the choice accordingly. I did what was possible and probable.

What were the problems you faced?

This play was originally cast in March and had its opening night at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in May. Due to security problems, we had to postpone two other shows at the American International School. When I looked at re-scheduling, I found that the only realistic option was to wait for September when I would have a parley with the cast.

Some of our cast members left in the midst of the production. What's more, we have had rehearsals disruptions, we have had problems obtaining suitable furniture for the set and have lost nearly all of the original crew. To say that this has been a challenging production to bring to the stage would be an understatement. I can only admire the outstanding tenacity of the cast and crew to stick with it to the end.

What are Dhaka Stage's future plans?

Our next show is to be A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens, adapted by Jerry Patch. Dhaka Stage is delighted to have been invited to perform at the Sonargaon again and is looking forward to performing there on November 19. We will then take the show forward for a further two nights.