The theatre and performance studies department of Dhaka University lifted the curtain on the DU 17th Central Annual Theatre Festival-2023 on Monday.
The nine-day theatre festival is scheduled to be held from October 2 to 10 at 6.30pm at the Teacher-Student Centre (TSC) Auditorium of the DU.
The festival is featuring fifteen plays which have been directed by honours final-year students as per their academic curriculum.
Dhaka University vice-chancellor Professor Md Akhtaruzzaman formally inaugurated the theatre festival as chief guest on Monday evening.
Besides, department chairperson Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma presided over at the programme.
In Addition, the department facilitated thespian, actor, dramatist and cultural activist Mamunur Rashid for his contribution to theatre.
‘Theatre and Performance Studies department is one of the bearers of the cultural waywardness of Dhaka University. The special aspect of this year's festival is that the fifteen youngsters are directing dramas based on manuscripts written by traditional Bengali writers of Bangla language,’ said Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma.
‘I strongly believe that traditions and non-communal value among the teachers-students will be more accelerated through this aesthetic event,’ she added.
On the opening day Rabindranath Tagore's notable play Dakghar was staged and directed by Ifti Shahriar Raian.
Second day of the festival, Salim Al Deen's drama Sangbad Cartoon, directed by Rifat Jahan Shaon and Maranbilas, based on Ahmed Safa’s novel directed by Rifat Karobi will be staged respectively.
Manoj Mitra's play Mahavidya under the direction of Mojahidul Islam Rifat and Rabindranath Tagore's play Chandalika under the direction of Rezvi Sultana will be on October 4.
On October 5th, Syed Shamsul Haque's play Irsha directed by Tahia Tasnim Mim and Baidehi written and directed by Moumita Sarkar will be staged.
On October 6, Bankimchandra Chatterjee’s Kamalakantar Jabanbandi directed by Mirhazul Sheble and Abdullah Al Mamun's drama Kokilara directed by Zadid Imtiaz Ahmed.
On October 7, Utpal Dutt's drama Megh directed by Tarikul Sardar and Nurul Momen's drama Nemesis directed by Salman Noor.
On October 8, Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay's play Satyanmeshi under the direction of Pran Krishna Banik and Rabindranath Tagore's play Strir Patra under the direction of Sarfaraz Al Tanvir.
Badruzzaman Alamgir's play Aharkandal under the direction of Debolina Chanda Daibee and Munir Chowdhury's play Dandakaranya under the direction of Joya Maria Costa will be staged on October 9.
