Professor Dr Israfil Shaheen of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University will lead Bangladesh at the 18th ‘Asia-Pacific Bond of Theatre Schools Festival and Directors’ Conference’ in 2025.
The international festival will be held from 28 November to 4 December 2025 at the Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) in China.
Professor Shaheen will showcase his extensive research and expertise on “Juvenile Correctional Theatre, Kara Theatre, and Therapeutic Theatre for Mental Health” on the international stage.
Organized to celebrate the STA’s illustrious 80th anniversary, the festival will bring together directors, researchers, teachers, students, and artists from over 25 theatre schools across the Asia-Pacific region. Participating countries include China, India, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, and Bangladesh.
Professor Shaheen’s participation is expected to further establish Bangladesh’s theatre research and practice on the global stage.
The Shanghai Theatre Academy (STA) is a principal member and regular organizer under the UNESCO–ITI–APB network, founded in 2008 to promote research, exchange, and collaboration among theatre education institutions in the Asia-Pacific region.
A proud native of Thakurgaon, Professor Shaheen is an alumnus of Thakurgaon Government Boys’ High School and a leading figure in Bangladesh’s theatre scene. Alongside his professorship at Dhaka University, he actively engages with grassroots theatre organizations across remote regions, working to elevate stage drama nationwide.