Padatik Natya Sangsad is once again set to honour the legacy of Syed Badruddin Hossain—the lifelong president of Theatre troupe Padatik Natya Sangsad, noted theatre activist, language movement hero, and revered educationist—through its annual Syed Badruddin Hossain Memorial Theatre Festival and Award. Launched in 2010, the festival celebrates his birthday with performances and honours those who have made significant contributions to theatre.

This year's festival will run from May 8 to May 11 at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka. Every evening at 7pm, a different play by a different troupe will be staged.

As part of the festivities, the Syed Badruddin Hossain Memorial Honor will be awarded posthumously to Dr Afsar Ahmad, the late chairman of the Department of Drama and Dramatics at Jahangirnagar University, and to Mohammad Saiful Islam, an esteemed stage and lighting designer.

The festival opens on May 8 with Jahangirnagar Theatre's production of "Dwitiyo Mrityur Agey" ("Before the Second Death"), a gripping tale of inner turmoil and existential crisis, written and directed by Mahfuzul Islam Megh.

On May 9, Padatik Natya Sangsad will present its 36th production, William Shakespeare's "Macbeth", translated into Bengali by Syed Shamsul Haq and directed by Sudip Chakraborty. The classic tragedy follows the ambitious general Macbeth, whose encounter with a mysterious supernatural force predicts his rise to power. However, when Macbeth seizes the throne at the costofmurder, he plunges both into guilt and paranoia.

The third night of the festival will feature Actomania's second production, "The Man Outside" by German writer Wolfgang Borchert. Translated by Mamun Haque and directed by Talha Zubair, the play tells the haunting story of Beckmann, a disillusioned soldier returning home after the war, only to find his homeland and its people alien and unrecognisable—a realisation that fuels his despair and rage.

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Finally, on May 11, Natyatirtha will stage "Dwip" ("The Island"), written by legendary Indian playwright Utpal Dutt and directed by Natyatirtha's team leader Tapan Hafiz. The drama explores how disillusionment with ideals can drive people to betray one another, painting a chilling portrait of human nature corrupted by ambition and greed.