1st Dhaka Int'l Theatre Festival

The Bangladesh Centre of International Theatre Institute (ITI) has arranged the festival with support of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and BSA.
Among the three troupes, Theatre and Theatre Art Unit staged “Muktadhara” and “Magoj Shamachar” respectively at the National Theatre Hall and Studio Theatre Hall. Aranyak staged two plays -- "Eti Yokaste” and “To Be or Not To Be” -- at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Both Theatre and Theatre Art Unit's plays are adaptations of Rabindranath Tagore's literary works.
Theatre brought “Muktadhara” to the stage as homage to Tagore on his 150th birth anniversary. Naila Azad has directed the play that featured a group of young actors. Among seasoned thespians, Ferdausi Majumdar and Traupa Majumdar performed in the play.
The storyline focuses on a dam constructed on a waterfall called 'Muktadhara'.
The King of Uttarkut, Ranjit, has ordered the royal engineer Bibhuti to build the dam. The intention is to teach the people of Shibtarai a good lesson, since they often disobey the King. Bibhuti does so but the kind and compassionate Prince Abhijit does not agree with his father's plan. His compassion and refusal to allow the King to exploit the people of Shibtarai, prompts him to demolish the dam and let loose the force of the waterfall.
Theatre Art Unit's “Magoj Shamachar” is based on Tagore's poem “Juta Abishkar”. The play features an anarchic king of an imaginary state, who is surrounded by silly sycophants. Hasan Shahriar is the playwright, and Saif Suman is the director of the play. Through the play, the director has tried to address the sad reality of the political culture in a comic way.
Aranyak's plays are experimental adaptations of world classics. “Eti Yokaste” is an adaptation of the Greek classic “Oedipus”. Through improvisational performances, the play tries to explore the woes of Jocasta, the mother and wife of King Oedipus. The play was written and directed by Deepak Suman.
“To Be or Not To Be” is an adaptation of the Shakespeare classic “Hamlet”. Abu Hasim Masuduzzaman has directed and written the play.
Today three plays will be staged. The department of Theatre, Dhaka University will stage “Dumb Waiter” at the National Theatre Hall. Padatik Natya Sangshad and Dhaka Drama will stage “Janomanko” and “Chhaya Brikkho” respectively at the Experimental and Studio Theatre Hall.