ASIAN THEATRE SUMMIT begins in the capital

A two-day Asian Theatre Summit 2017 began yesterday at the Bangladesh Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) yesterday, where 15 theatre experts from Indonesia, India, Malaysia, Philippines, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand are participating. 

The summit was initiated by the International Theatre Association's (IATA) Regional Centre, organised by People's Theatre Association and BSA and assisted by the Cultural Affairs Ministry.

Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor inaugurated the Summit yesterday at BSA's Seminar Room. International Theatre Institute's (ITI) global centre chairman Ramendu Mazumder, ITI Bangladesh Centre chairman Nasiruddin Yousuff, eminent playwright Abdus Selim and thespian SM Mohsin were the discussants at the opening session, which was chaired by BSA Director General and IATA Asia Region chairman Liaquat Ali Lucky. Foreign guests and some Bangladeshi participants presented their papers, following which discussions were held on the topics.

In today's sessions, respresentatives of various countries will discuss on their country's culture, while some papers will also be presented along with discussion on them.

The two day summit also features a number of presentations of Bangladesh's Baul music, Charja dance, Gaudiya dance, children's dance and theatre, foreign plays, various traditional forms of Bangladeshi plays, video festival and jatra pala. Participants from Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia will also present their performances.

The summit has been organised to strengthen communication between theatre organisations, theatre activists, researchers and scholars of the Asia region, create scope for mutual cooperation and to establish the rich theatre heritage of Asia in the world. A book titled "Theatre of Asia" will be published after the summit, consisting of the papers of the experts.