Celebrating women empowerment, the Department of Theatre and Film of Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy has organised “Nari Jagorone Natya Ayojon 2013.” The festival started Monday and will continue till August 24.
During the festival, twelve popular feminist dramas will be staged at the National Theatre Hall and Experimental Hall of Shilpakala Academy everyday at 7pm. “Lal Jamin” a theatrical expression of the struggle of a woman during the Liberation War of Bangladesh in 1971 is written by Mannan Heera and directed by Sudip Chakroborty. The play is a monodrama that represents the suppression of the female freedom fighters and is a production of theatre troupe Shunyan.
“Amina Shundory” by Theatre Art Unit and directed by Rokeya Rafiq Baby will be staged today. “Amina Shundory” portrays a tragedy of a woman named Amina whose husband left her for ten years and when he comes back, he questions her purity and honesty. The story is a wonderful portrayal of the role of a woman and her sufferings in a patriarchal society.
“Chitrangada” by Shopnodol and “Ami Birongona Bolchhi” by Nagorik Natyangan will be staged on August 21. Bot Tola will perform “Khona” and Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy will present “Bideho” on August 22 on the same time. On August 23, a seminar will be held about the improvement of women in theatre, from the Bangladesh perspective at 3pm. On the same day, Palakar’s popular play “Narigon” and Dhaka Theatre’s “Binodini” by will be staged at 7pm. “Kohe Birongona” by Monipuri Theatre and “Prakrita Puokrangana” by Desh Natok will stage on the last day of the festival.
Lokonatyadol staged “Lilaboty Akhan” at the opening of the festival was followed by the second performance of “Kokilara” by Theatre Baily Road.
Cultural Minister Abul Kalam Azad inaugurated the festival at the National Theatre Hall of BSA Monday. Ministry of Cultural Affairs Secretary Ranjit Kumar Biswas and advocate Sulatana Kamal attended the programme as special guests of the evening.
The opening session was a rendezvous of theatre activists from all across the country. Director of BSA, Liaquat Ali Lucky and Begum Sara Ara Mahmud, director of Drama and Film department gave opening speech at the evening. Honourable Minister Abul Kalam Azad unveiled the sculptures of belated eminent cultural activists at the sixth floor of BSA Monday.
