Centre for Asian Theatre wins Ibsen Scholarship

(From left) Rokeya Rafiq Baby, Professor Abdul Mannan and Mosharraf Hossain at the press conference.

Ibsen Scholarships for International Ibsen Projects 2008 was handed over to Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) on September 1, at the National Theatre Stage in Oslo, Norway informed the theatre troupe members at a press conference held recently.
President of CAT, Professor Abdul Mannan; General Secretary Mosharraf Hossain and Executive Committee member Rokeya Rafiq Baby spoke at the press conference.
Besides the Bangladeshi troupe, The Commonwealth Theatre of USA, Writers Projects in Afghanistan and herStay of Norway received the scholarships.
Ministry of Culture of Norway provides scholarships for international Ibsen projects to a person or institution that works to uphold the spirit of Ibsen. The projects do not necessarily have to be plays by Ibsen or translations, nor do they have to refer directly to Ibsen.
CAT has produced several plays by Ibsen such as Ghosts, Wild Duck, A Doll's House, Peer Gynt and Brand. Moreover, it has produced Resurrection, based on Ibsen's life and works, written by Kamaluddin Nilu.
As part of the scholarship, CAT is currently planning to produce The Lady from the Sea. As per an agreement, Norwegian director Unn-Magritt Nordseth and Dramatic Advisor Ragnhild Mærli will come Dhaka to direct the play, which will be premiered in December.
CAT wishes to establish a leading international Ibsen centre in Asia, and therefore needs to develop and educate their staff in several of the theatrical professions.