“ Kochi Smarak Padatik Natya Utshab ’10”
Theatre troupe Padatik Natya Shangsad, Bangladesh , is to hold "Kochi Smarak Padatik Natya Utshab 2010," from April 24 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy . The troupe members are busy fine tuning last minute arrangements.
"Padatik will stage the 48th show of their production “Jaalbalika” on the inaugural day of the festival," said Selim S. H. Chowdhury, chief executive, Padatik Netya Shangsad.
"The festival is being held in memory of Abu Mohammad Murtayish Kochi, one of the founding members of Padatik, Kochi played a lead role in organising the group and writing the troupe's constitution, and on other fronts, till his untimely death at the age of 45, on September 13, 2002. He was an active theatre activist, who contributed a lot to the theatre scene," added Chowdhury.
The festival will continue till May 1. The inauguration programme will be held at the National Theatre Stage, BSA.
The theme of the inauguration ceremony will be the Liberation War. The event will be inaugurated by Liberation War heroes. The inauguration programme will include dance performances by Nrityam and Spondon based on the theme of the Liberation War and a light and sound show, informed the organisers.
Apart from five theatre troupes from Bangladesh -- Theatre, Desh Natak, Shobachan, Dhaka Theatre and the hosts Padatik Natya Shangsad--two Indian troupes -- Ha- Ja- Ra- Ba- La from West Bengal and Mohakaran Binodan Shangstha from Tripura will stage their productions "Obogunthan" and "Rajendra Dhakir Golpo", at the festival.
"BSA should keep its hall open during a theatre festival, as in Dhaka people don't have many alternatives of quality entertainment. Keeping the hall closed due to a holiday hampers the normal pace of the festival, The hall can be kept open under special arrangements on holidays which will be helpful for all the theatre groups. BSA will be holding a programme at the Experimental Hall on their holidays but why we are being deprived of holding the festival on the day is not very clear," said Chowdhury.
On April 29, the festival will be held at the Experimental Hall because of World Dance Day.
"I am optimistic about the success of the festival, which will contribute to generating interest in theatre. I invite theatre enthusiasts to come to the festival and enjoy the performances," concluded Chowdhury.
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