Palakar Natya Utshab: Popularising an experimental drama form

A scene from The Honourable Tiger

Commenting on the Lab-act concept, Aminur Rahman, the chief organiser of Palakar, said, 'Most members of our group are from the Department of Fine Arts of Chittagong University. Like other universities, we used to practice improvisation based experimental drama in the theatre studio. After forming our own group--Palakar-- we have decided to practice studio theatre or Lab act, which means staging a drama in front of a limited audience in a small room, where actors perform intimately to the audience rather than other theatre forms.'

What are the elements that go into studio theatre? Aminur said, 'In studio theatre, we basically work on a particular theme. Through improvisation and discussion among the performers, director and designers, we develop the theme and then write the script of the play. The duration of this type of experimental theatre form is 40 minutes to one-and-a-half-hours.'

The current festival was arrayed with diversified programmes, including Lokogan (folk song), Baul song, Bangla film songs, songs of drama and a good number of plays. Apart from Palakar's three lab-acts, Dhaka University, Jahangirnagar University and Prachyanat performed research-based plays. The experimental theatre festival received a good response.