In celebration of the 40 years journey of Dhaka Theatre, the famous theatre troupe is holding a stage show presenting a collage of its fourteen productions Sunday at 7:45pm at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Dhaka Theatre will stage a medley of performances of some of its most acclaimed dramas — “Shongbad Cartoon”, “Kittonkhola”, “Muntasir Fantasy”, “Shakuntala”, “Keramot Mangal”, “Haat Hodai” and “Bono Pangshul”, to name a few. In this celebration, some of the biggest names in the TV and film industries who have emerged from Dhaka Theatre are making a comeback on stage.
Afzal Hossain, Raisul Islam Asad, Zahiruddin Peyar, Shomi Kaiser, Fakhrul Basher Masum, and Shubhashish Bhowmik are returning on the stage today with the elder and new members of Dhaka Theatre.The leading theatre group of the country was founded by the iconic theatre personality, Selim Al Deen. He initiated the theatre by producing “Shongbaad Cartoon” in 1973.
“Selim Al Din was a creative and dynamic personality. His profound knowledge in theatre field has led Dhaka Theatre to make a successful journey. The new and upcoming generation would hold the legacy of the talented personality and run the theatre movement across the country,” said Nasiruddin Yousuff Bacchu, president of Dhaka Theatre, in a seminar.
Forty years into the journey and everyone who has been a part of this institution, new and old, has had a special bond with it — a certain kind of passion to keep going and taking themselves further along with it.
In a span of four decades, we have witnessed Dhaka Theatre produce some of the biggest names in the industry: Shimul Yusuff, Suborna Mustafa, Humayun Faridee, Raisul Islam Asad, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Pijush Bandhyopadhyay, Afzal Hossain, Shomi Kaiser and many more; the streak continues as more talented individuals continue to emerge from this prestigious institution.
The commencement of the celebration, a seminar on “Dhaka Theatre’s forty years and Graam Theatre thirty years” was organised on July 27 at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The discussion was held with the leading theatre personalities and Dhaka Theatres’ fellow arties. An article on Dhaka Theatre’s written by Professor Afsar Ahmed which was presented at the seminar.
The seminar was presided over by Professor Sirajul Islam Chowdhury. The discussants at the seminar mention the extended work of the theatre including the political and social revolution. The artistes mentioned the contribution in the liberation was of Dhaka Theatre, which was performed by the freedom fighters. Shimul Yusuff pointed on the issue of Graam theatre being veiled for the political purpose.
