Curtains on Shabdabali Int'l Theatre Festival
A weeklong Shabdabali International Theatre festival, marking the 25th anniversary of Shabdaboli Studio Theatre, ended in Barisal on Friday, January 22.
A consistently big audience turned up every day to see the plays at the festival.
"This was the First International Theatre Festival in Barisal, so we faced huge challenge, but we succeeded," said Syed Dulal, president of Shabdabal Group Theatre.
Nasiruddin Yousuff, thespian, inaugurated the festival at Ashwani Kumar Hall at 15 January.
Eleven theatre troupes: Gentleman Pantomime ( who staged "The Uncertain World), Bangla Theatre ("Amanush"), Natyadhara ("Ebong Ashwamedh Joggo"), Shabdo Natya Charcha Kendra ("Biranganar Boyan"), Prachyanat ("Tragedy Palashbari"), Loknatya Dal ("Sonai Madhab") from Dhaka; Bibarton ("Pechgi") of Jessore, Shabdaboli Group Theatre ("Nil Moyurer Jouban" and "Fona"), Panchoshiri Group Theatre ("Kuhak") from Barisal; and Alternative Living Theater ("Long March", "Bishadkal") of Kolkata and The Fact Art & Cultural Society ("Samjhota") from Bihar of India performed their shows in the festival.
The shows were presented on the stages of Shabdaboli Studio Theatre and Ashwini Kumar Hall every day from January 16-22.
Besides seminars on "Existence of theatre against hostility" and "Our practice of theatre: looking in the rearview mirror" were held. Other topics related with theatre were also discussed at the festival every day by leading cultural personalities of the country and abroad.
However, the concluding ceremony of the festival was held on Saturday night by awarding the Gias-Milon Natya Padak to Liaquat Ali Lucky, Director General of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Mancha-sarathi Ataur Rahman, theatre critic Dr. Ashish Kumar Goswami and deputy commissioner Dr. Gazi Saifuzzaman attended as guests in the concluding ceremony.
The Daily Star was media partner of the festival.
Comments