Musical presentation of Coleridge's The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

The ballad reveals the tale of an 'ancient mariner' whose experience of a journey leads to an invaluable realisation, which changes his entire life. While on a sea-voyage, the mariner's ship gets lost in the cold northern hemisphere; the miraculous advent of an albatross saves them; but the mariner whimsically kills that very albatross. All the other mariners are punished through death for justifying the killing, but the mariner is punished with Life-in-Death. As the mariner suffers utter loneliness and isolation, he gradually understands the enormity of his action. He suffers and he learns, till ultimately he rejoins the cycle of life. The bond that he broke by killing the albatross is restored by blessing some water snakes. He returns home and spends the rest of his life travelling and teaching the lesson of universal love.

This 7th EDDS production created huge enthusiasm not only among the English department and Dhaka University students but also among the students of other institutions like the University of Asia Pacific (UAP) and Bangladesh International School (BIS), who enjoyed the presentations. The excellent acting, wonderful narration and music composition, superb light designing and light projection--all done by the students and an alumnus of the department, received huge appreciation from the audience present in both the shows.

Encouraged by the cheerful feedback, EDDS is now thinking for few more staging of its production besides planning for organising Shakespeare festival in April, the month in which the great poet and playwright was born.

Takad Ahmed Chowdhury, President of EDDS, teaches English at the University of Asia Pacific(UAP).