Dhaka Theatre

Dhaka Theatre a theatre group established in Dhaka in 1973, and one of the pioneers of the neo-theatre movement in the country. Its members believe that theatre should depict the life of the people and therefore endeavour to find a theatrical expression which will truly depict the country and its people. To achieve this goal, the group emphasises the traditional performing art forms and has tried to mingle old forms with modern ideas and technologies. The group's productions have been appreciated for their artistry as well as their portrayal of Bangladeshi themes. Selim Al-Din is the leading playwright of the group. He writes plays based on the indigenous epic style of mangalkavyas, maimansingha-gitika, etc. Nasiruddin Yousuff directs the plays of Dhaka Theatre and has very ably directed most of Selim Al-Din's plays. Dhaka Theatre has staged about 26 plays, of which Muntasir Fantasy, Fani Manasa, Kittankhola, Keramat Mangal, Hat Hadai, Chaka and Banapangshul have been acclaimed both within and outside the country. The group has also staged Bangla versions of The Resistible Rise and Fall of Arturo Ui by Bertolt Brecht and Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. Dhaka Theatre has also taken up a theatre programme known as Gram Theatre which stages plays enacted by villagers in any available open space. Dhaka Theatre has about 50 members; prominent among them are Nasiruddin Yusuf, Shimul Yusuf, Humayun Faridi, Subarna Mustafa, Raisul Islam Asad, Pijush Bandyopadhyay, Shahidul Islam Selim and Shomi Kaiser. [Ataur Rahman]