Prachyanat holds three-day street theatre fest

The festival was held at the amphitheatre inside Suhrawardi Udyan. Photo Courtesy: Prachyanat

As part of its yearlong celebration marking its 15th anniversary, one of the leading Bangladeshi theatre troupes, Prachyanat, arranged a three-day street theatre festival at the amphitheatre inside Suhrawardi Udyan in Dhaka. The festival took place on November 15 to 17. Nine plays by seven troupes were staged at the festival.
Veteran theatre personality Mamunur Rashid inaugurated the festival. Among others, Azad Abul Kalam, chief of Prachyanat; and Indian theatre personalities Bivash Chakraborty and Bansi Kaul, who were in Dhaka to attend the Theatre Art Unit festival, spoke at the inaugural programme.
Prachyanat staged three plays at the festival. The invited troupes were the theatre wing of Udichi; Oikik Theatre; Opera Theatre; Natyabed; Jahangirnagar Theatre (Auditorium) and Jahangirnagar Theatre (TSC).
Prachyanat staged “Lash-er Desh”, “Gorto” and “Bish Panchali” at the festival. “Lash-er Desh” has been directed by Saiful Islam, while the others have been directed by Kazi Taufiqul Islam.
Each day featured staging of three plays. A huge turnout enjoyed the plays, especially the evening shows, as many Dhakaites like to come to the park to relax.
Apart from staging plays, the organisers honoured three talented and young female actors, one on each day. The awardees are: Samiun Jahan (Dhaka Theatre), Jyoti Sinha (Manipuri Theatre) and Fauzia Karim (Theatre Art Unit).
Samiun has impressed audiences with her memorable performances in “Nimojjon” and “Tempest”. Jyoti Sinha is the lead female actor of her troupe, while Fauzia Karim has been performing as lead actress in several plays including “Amina Shundari” and “Shesher Kobita”.
In between shows, Prachyanat members entertained the audience with songs from their popular productions.
On the last day, after staging of three plays, the festival came to an end with a brief performance of traditional lathi khela.
The festival slogan was “Poth Chherona Pother Manush”.