Prominent theatre troupe Prachyanat marked its 29th anniversary on February 21. To commemorate the occasion, the troupe organised a series of cultural events throughout the month, which concludes today with a closing ceremony at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).

PHOTO: SHAHREAR KABIR HEEMEL

The final day's program will kick off at 3pm at the Academy's Nandan Manch with a special performance for children, including a puppet show, craft-making workshops, and plays. Theatre groups BotTala, Jolchhobi, and Jolputul Puppets will be participating in the events.

At 5pm, in the Shilpakala Academy's lobby, Prachyanat will showcase the traditional "Lathikhela", a form of traditional stick-fighting performance, as part of their cultural presentations. At 6pm, Prachyanat's choreography team will present a dance piece titled "Srijone Songrame 29".

Cast members of the play.

Later, at 6:30pm, there will be a musical performance titled "Phool Pakhir Gaan" (Songs of Flowers and Birds) featuring songs from Prachyanat's previous plays. Following this, a concert named "Praner Manusher Gaan" (Songs of the Soulful) will feature performances by popular music groups Jolergaan, Sarbanam, and BotTala. Additionally, there will be an all-day exhibition of artworks and photographs highlighting Prachyanat's productions.

A scene from the play.

Prachyanat was founded in the 1990s by a group of young theatre enthusiasts in Dhaka. The name was given by the late, eminent playwright and researcher, Selim Al Deen. The troupe officially launched on February 21, 1997. Since its inception, Prachyanat has contributed significantly to Bangladesh's theatre scene, not only by creating new plays but also by conducting workshops and training to nurture new talent.

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