The end of a successful festival
In the international theatre festival titled "Staging Ibsen in Asia', theatre troupes from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Taiwan and Japan participated. Representatives of the countries: Aranyak Natya Dal, Centre for Asian Theatre, Ibsen Performance Group, Japan, Ajoka Theatre, Pakistan, Arohan Theatre, Nepal, Workshop in Heaven, Taiwan; Anya Chetana and NSD Repertory, India, staged shows at the National Theatre Stage.
In another section, Department of Theatre and Music, Dhaka University, Department of Drama and Dramatics, Jahangirnagar University, Department of Theatre and Music, Rajshahi University, University of Khulna, IDCCC, Chittagong, Damama, Shiliguri, India and Kanthashilon--staged plays at the Experimental Theatre Stage. The title of this section was 'Ibsen's Plays Through Young Eyes'.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Theatre troupes staged translated and adapted Ibsen's plays such as Ghosts, An Enemy of the People, The Lady from the Sea, Pillars of the Society, Love's Comedy, John Gabriel Borkman, A Doll's House, Rosmersholm and Peer Gynt.
The festival received a positive response from the audience. Each day a remarkable number of people, including theatre activists, watched the shows. The more enthusiastic even watched all the shows.
Acclaimed playwright Syed Shamsul Huq said, "Ibsen has dealt with hard reality. These plays are still relevant in the contemporary world. And the festival has given an opportunity to the interested audience to watch the universally acclaimed plays."
The festival has raised many questions. Actor-playwright-director Dr Enamul Huq said, "I'm impressed at the turnout of the audience. However, I have a question to pose: Why don't they come to watch our regular shows?"
One explanation is offered by theatre actor, director Azad Abul Kalam. To quote him, "The festival environment is very good. I've seen many people watching all the shows. Naturally people go for festivals, rather than regular shows."