Aranyak's international theatre fest begins today

Aranyak Natyadal, one of the leading theatre troupes of the country, are celebrating their 45th anniversary (October 22) with a weeklong international theatre festival at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). The weeklong festival, titled "Pushpo O Mongol Antorjatik Natyotshob" will feature five troupes from India, and one each from Norway, Iran and Hong Kong.

The festival will be inaugurated at BSA's Nandan Mancha this afternoon, by Lily Chowdhury, actress and wife of martyred intellectual Munier Chowdhury. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will be the chief guest, while Ambassadors of Norway and Iran and eminent thespians Ramendu Mazumdar, Nasiruddin Yousuff, Golam Kuddus and Liaquat Ali Lucky will also attend the ceremony as special guests.

"We started Aranyak 45 years ago with a commitment, and we haven't veered off that. That is our biggest achievement," said Mamunur Rashid, founder and director of the troupe. "Theatre speaks of the people, and gives voice to the neglected population. We continue on that quest."

The festival will open with Aranyak's play "Iblish", written and directed by Rashid, at the National Theatre Hall auditorium at 7pm. The troupe will also stage their plays "Moyur Singhashon" and "Rarang", as well as street plays "Oronyo Mongol", "Murkho Loker Murkho Kotha" and "Aguner Jobanbondi" at the festival. The street plays will be staged at the open premises of the National Theatre Hall.

Other events of the festival will include a 'gambhira' (a folk musical theatre form) performance, an acting workshop, an 'adda' and conferring of the Aranyak Dipu Memorial Award. All the plays will be staged at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Theatre Hall, except for the closing play (on October 28), by Hong Kong-based troupe APFTS titled "The Third Tower of Babel", which will be staged at the Studio Theatre Hall.