First Indigenous Theatre Fest to begin Nov 19

For the first time, a theatre festival featuring indigenous plays is being arranged in Bangladesh. Sampreeti Natyotsab Parshad is holding the First International Indigenous Theatre Festival Dhaka from November 19-26 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). 

The festival will simultaneously take place at the National Theatre Hall, Experimental Theatre Hall and Nandan Mancha of BSA every evening.

The event was announced at a press conference held at the Seminar Room of National Theatre Hall on November 16. 

The eight-day festival will feature theatrical productions by 16 indigenous troupes from Bangladesh and the eastern part of India. Bangladeshi indigenous troupes including Chakma, Marma, Monipuri, Tripura, Santal, Garo, Orao will get a chance to showcase their culture in front of Dhaka audience. Also troupes from Indian state of Assam, Monipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Jharkhand will participate in fest with their native productions. 

Aside from theatrical productions, the festival will feature cultural programmes at the open premises of BSA.

The festival will be inaugurated at the National Theatre Hall. Finance Minister AMA Muhith will attend the ceremony as chief guest, while Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor will announce the inauguration of the festival. Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pankaj Sharan will attend the event as special guest. 

Noted theatre personalities Ramendu Mazumdar, Ataur Rahman, Aly Zaker, Nasiruddin Yousuff and other theatre activists are part of this arrangement.

The organisers expressed hopes that this festival will open up a new era in flourishing the cultures of indigenous people. 

The Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy and India-Bangladesh Foundation are partners of this event.