Leading theatre troupe Dhaka Theatre celebrated its golden jubilee inaugurating year-long programmes at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday.
Thespians Ramendu Majumdar, Ferdausi Majumdar, Mamunur Rashid, M Hamid, Shimul Yousuf, Suborna Mustafa, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Raisul Islam Asad, Dhaka Theatre president Nasiruddin Yousuff and others were present at the event held at the lobby of the Experimental Theatre Hall of the BSA.
They inaugurated the year-long programme lighting candles. ‘Fifty years have passed since Dhaka Theatre began its journey. We are responsible to the people and I hope that Dhaka Theatre will fulfil that responsibility,’ said Mamunur Rashid.
Congratulating Dhaka Theatre, Ramendu Majumdar said that the troupe represented Bangladesh abroad on numerous occasions.
Nasiruddin Yousuff in his speech recalled the troupe’s founding member Selim Al Deen.
‘Selim Al Deen is an inseparable part of Dhaka Theatre. I am missing him a lot today. Among the 50 productions of our troupe, he wrote 25 productions,’ said Nasiruddin Yousuff.
He also thanked the well-wishers of Dhaka Theatre for attending the celebration programme.
A Manipuri troupe from Moulvibazar entertained the audience staging Manipuri Natpala.
Following the inaugural ceremony, Dhaka Theatre staged its production titled Prachya at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the academy.
Prachya, written by Selim Al Deen, has been directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff.
The play revolves around the main character Soyfor. He goes to Kajlakanda village to marry Nolok, whom he saw sitting in the audience at a jatra. He loses his wife on the wedding night after a snake bites her. He vows to take revenge on the snake and the play moves forward.
Shahiduzzaman Selim played the character of Soyfor while Rosey Siddiqui played the character of Nolok in the play.
Besides, Asaduzzaman Aman, Shimul Yousuf, Faruque Ahamed, Shahriar Akhtar, Sheikh Ehsanur Rahman, Tariqul Islam Liton, Sajjad Rajeeb, Ali Murad Rinku, Mustafa Ratan, Mahmudur Rahman Shuvo, AKM Siraj, Nargis Akhter, Taslima Chumki, Jayashree Majumdar Lata, Jane Alam Ferdous, Nasreen Nahar, Anik Islam, Tahmida Mahmud and others played different characters in the play.
Dhaka Theatre premiered Prachya in 2000 and the troupe again brought the play to the stage after around 20-year hiatus marking the troupe’s golden jubilee.
Dhaka Theatre has formed a Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee to organise year-long programmes. Nasiruddin Yousuff is the convener while Raisul Islam Asad, Shimul Yousuf, Afzal Hossain, Fakhrul Basher Masum, Kamal Bayezid, Satadal Barua Bilu, Faruque Ahamed, Shahiduzzaman Selim, Esha Yousuf, Sudeep Barua Khokon and others are members of the committee.
The year-long programmes will comprise theatre festival, publication of books, award programme and others.
Founded on July 29, 1973, Dhaka Theatre began its journey staging two plays, namely Sangbad Cartoon, written by Selim Al Deen, and Samrat o Pratidwandigan, written by Habibul Hasan. Both of the plays were directed by Nasiruddin Yousuff.
Many leading theatre activists of the country were members of Dhaka Theatre at some point.
Raisul Islam Asad, Afzal Hossain, Humayun Faridi, Shahiduzzaman Selim and others acted in plays produced by Dhaka Theatre.
Dhaka Theatre has produced 50 productions to date, namely Muntasir Fantasy, Koshai, Shakuntala, Kittonkhola, Chaka, Voot, Ekattorer Pala, Mrittu Songbad, Binodini, Amrita Upakhyan, Eti Patramita, Putra, Ekti Loukik Athoba Aloukik Steamer, Noishobde ’71 and others.
The troupe is scheduled to stage another show of Prachya on Saturday at the same venue.