Theatre troupe BotTala is set to stage their latest production “Trial of Mallam Ilya”, at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy today.

The play, written by African playwright Mohammad Ben Abdallah, is translated into Bengali by Soumya Sarker, while Mohammad Ali Haider is the director.

The play revolves around Mallam Ilya, the fallen leader of a revolution who is also a narrator. “The Trial of Mallam Ilya” is written in the context of political instability in a post-colonial African country where one coup follows another, symptomatic of a deep socio-political malaise. With its gripping narrative, the play articulates the semiotics of revolution. The story of coups, conspiracies and political turmoil is subtly presented to the audience.

Pankaj Majumdar, Mizanur Rahman, Toufiq Hasan Bhuiyan, Kazi Roksana Ruma, Samina Luthfa and Sheyuti Shahgufta play various roles in it.