AN ILLUSTRIOUS JOURNEY
Theatre and Performance Studies Department of Dhaka University completed two decades of its journey this year. Beginning its journey in 1994, the department has come a long way to establish itself as place that promotes performing arts and nurture young creative minds.
To mark its eventful journey, the department arranged a 12-day theatre festival titled “Dhaka University 9th Central Annual Theatre Fest 2014” that opened on December 1 and saw its curtains fall yesterday evening at TSC auditorium. The festival saw the staging of 20 plays which denotes two decades of its journey into theatre.
The grand display of theatre featured both oriental and occidental plays, which have been directed by 20 young directors of the department. Plays of diverse genres and from different regions were staged at the festival. Popular pieces by Anton Chekhov, Eugene O'Neill, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Harold Pinter, August Strindberg, Monoj Mitra, Franca Rame, Mark Twain, Munier Chowdhury, Syed Shamsul Haq and many other playwrights. Different plays catered to the audience of different tastes.
Throughout the festival, TSC wore a festive look with the footsteps of young theatre enthusiasts and audiences. Most of the audiences were students of different departments of DU.
Sudip Chakroborthy, Chairman of Theatre and Performance Studies Department said, “We are overwhelmed to see the response from audience. We sold tickets of around 2.5 lac taka. Apart from the students of our department, many students from other departments of the university attended the festival and watched plays.”
About the journey of this department, Sudip, also an acclaimed theatre director, said, “We have many achievements of which we are proud. This department has set a new trend in theatre and inspired many youths to join theatre, many of whom are now doing well.”
The closing ceremony of the festival took place at the same venue yesterday at 6pm. The festival closed with the staging of Christopher Marlow's “Doctor Faustus”. Doctor Faustus is a play that is much ahead of its time and can easily be connected to the present socio-political scenario of Bangladesh in this 21st century.
The practice of theatre has not yet flourished to its potential in Bangladesh, and outside the capital it is yet to take an organised shape. Fortunately, theatre is attracting young generation, and many youths are now leaning towards this performing art. Over the years, the department has played a significant role in inspiring new generations and enriched them with the knowledge about theatre and performing arts.
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