Street Theatre: A need for patronage

Protichchobi Theatre presenting Bou, a Street play at the Shaheed Minar

On the closing day, BPNP leaders delivered speeches at the beginning and after the display of eight street plays. After the closing announcement given by Mafizur Rahman, Saiful Islam Mahmud, the chief of Mahakal Natyasamprodaya (a cultural organisation) delivered the closing speech.

Saiful Islam Mahmud thanked the participants from outside who had lent their skills to make the festival a success. 'The brutal attack on the eminent intellectual of the country, Dr. Humayun Azad, temporarily threw a damper on the festival at the Shaheed Minar premises. We are fortunate to have got a good response from our regular theatre lovers.' Mahmud added. Outlining the future course of action, he said that the BPNP will organise seminars and workshops to improve the quality of street theatre.

After his speech, eight groups staged patha natok. The participant-groups were-- Aranyak Natya Dal, Shubochon Natya Shangshod, Samay Shankskritik Goshthi, Desh Theatre from Srimongal, Natyadeep, Natyakunjo, Bornomala Group Theatre, Bibortan Shankskritik Kendra, Banolota Natya Shangshod from Jhinaidah.

The leitmotif of these plays was to build public awareness about the rise of fundamentalism and terrorism all over the world.

Mannan Hira the president of the organisation, delivered the concluding speech and thanked the theatre groups and the audience. Hira said, 'Street theatre demands greater patronage by politicians as well as the cultural leaders of the country.' He condemned the attack on Dr. Humayun Azad and demanded the punishment of the criminals.

This year 63 troupes staged street plays at the Shaheed Minar premises. Because of some political crisis the festival could not run smoothly. However, each day, more than 200 viewers saw eight plays on an average till 10 p.m. However, there is a popular demand for greater participation by the big theatre groups in future.