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Selim Al Deen theatre fest begins today

Selim Al Deen theatre fest begins today

  A weeklong theatre festival, in honour of the iconic playwright Selim Al Deen, begins today at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka. Selim Al Deen Foundation and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy are jointly arranging the festival, while Dhaka Theatre and Bangladesh Gram Theatre are assisting them.

 

Apart from a play written by Al Deen, the festival will also feature plays by other notable writers as it commences this evening at the National Theatre Hall with the staging of Dhaka Theatre's latest production “The Tempest”. An adaptation of the William Shakespeare classic, the play highlights Bangladeshi folk elements. Today, Drishtipat Natyadal will also stage a play, “Raja Himadri”, at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Through the festival, the organisers will celebrate Al Deen's brilliance but the core aspect of the festival will be exploring the link between Al Deen's thoughts on the thousand-year-old Bengali theatre tradition and the history of this land. In this regard, an exhibition featuring terracotta and other archaeological items from the Wari and Bateswar sites will be held at the venue. Archaeologist and Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman, chief of the excavation team, will deliver a lecture at a seminar that is part of the festival. 
Former Chief Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman is expected to inaugurate the festival this evening. ITI Worldwide President Ramendu Majumdar; Sara Ara Mahmud, director, Film and Theatre department, BSA and Professor Sufi Mostafizur Rahman will be present as special guests. Nasiruddin Yousuff, convener of the festival committee, will preside over the inaugural session.
Two troupes from Kolkata, India -- Naye Natua and Tritio Shutra -- will take part at the festival. Naye Natua will stage two plays -- “Baroda Baroda” and “Kabye Ganey”, while Tritio Shutra will stage Tagore's “Bisharjan”. 
“Dhaboman” by Dhaka Theatre is the lone Al Deen play at the fest, while experimental adaptations of Tagore literature such as “Raja…ebong Onnanyo” (by Prachyanat) and “Nishimon Bisharjan” (Mahakal) as well as biographical works such as “Mahajoner Nao” (Subachan) and “Mahatma” (Universal Theatre) will give the audience a chance to enjoy diversity.
Other troupes to stage plays at the festival are: Habiganj Shilpakala Acadmey (“Jyotishanghita”); Tirjak Natyadal, Chittagong (“Rakto Karobi”); Desh Bangla Theatre (“Kankal O Sharey Tin Hath”) and Shomoy Natyadal (“Shesh Sanglaap”).
The festival also includes a solo recitation evening titled, “Amar Rabindranath”, compiled and performed by Hasan Arif.
This is the sixth such initiative on Al Deen. The festival will end on August 31. Everyday plays will start at 7pm.