Entertainment Desk
The Bangladesh International Theatre Festival opened at the National Theatre Auditorium in Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy , an initiative of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs on Friday .
Shilpakala Academy Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky, giving the welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony of the festival on Friday evening, called the occasion “memorable.”
“This is the first time that the Ministry of Cultural Affairs is organising an international theatre festival here. It has been organized in a very short time, but the sincere cooperation and dedication of everyone involved has made it possible,” he said.
The seven-day festival will end on Wednesday. A French production “Oh My Sweet Land,” and an Indian production of “Macbeth” was staged on Friday. A Bangladeshi production “Zaitun Bibir Pala,” Chinese play “F CK,” Nepalese play “Jhialincha,” Vietnamese play “Kim Tu,” plus a Russian light puppet show,” will be staged on the subsequent days of the festival. A seminar along with a masterclass will take place at 3 pm on June 22 as part of the festival. The entire festival is free for all.
Planning Minister MA Mannan, who was the special guest at the event, congratulated State Minister for Cultural Affairs KM Khalid for taking the initiative and organizing it within a short period of time.
State Minister KM Khalid, the mastermind behind this initiative, said he wanted to bring more attention to the age-old art of theatre in the modern life, where most people’s lives and entertainment revolves around digital devices.
“I have noticed that there are members in every family who have become too engrossed in the world of their mobile phones. Then we hear complaints about the sorry state of our culture,” he said when explaining what inspired him to undertake such a monumental task.
However, the idea did garner some concerns from some people about unfavourable reactions, the state minister further said.
Dr Md Abu Hena Mostofa Kamal, Acting Secretary at the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, admitted to having doubts whether they would be able to successfully organize the event.
Among others, veteran theatre activist Ramendu Majumdar, honorary world president of the International Theatre Institute (ITI), Nasiruddin Yousuff, another famed theatre activist and president of ITI Bangladesh Centre, and internationally renowned Indian playwright and theatre director Ratan Thiyam were present.
The Bangladesh International Theatre Festival will be organised biannually, alongside the Dhaka International Theatre Festival (DITF), which is organised by the International Theatre Institute (ITI) Bangladesh. The ministry will continue supporting the DITF too, the ministry officials said.
