Theatre festival underway at JKKNIU

An eight-day theatre festival began at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University (JKKNIU), a culture based university in Trishal upazila of Mymensingh on Thursday evening.

Theatre and Performance Studies Department of the university organised the festival with a view to producing many more theatre directors. It is the third edition of the festival organised for the honours final year students of the department, organisers said.

A total of 24 plays will be staged during the festival.

The play "Chand O Chokor" was staged at the inaugural day of the festival with a slogan "Manobikotar Bikashe Natok Thakuk Pashe" (Drama for fourishing humanity).

The play adopted by Indian playwirght Soumen Chandra Nandi from Jean-Paul Sartre's play was directed by Shabnam Mostari Swarna, a final year student of the department.

The cast of the play was - Mohammad Shamim, Tahmina Akhter Hira, Shihab Uddin Akanda, Shamsur Rahman Sajib and Solaiman Hossain.

The other plays staged on the inaugural day were - Mohit Chattopadhyay's "Konthhonalite Surjo" and Monoj Mitra's "Bonojyoshna".

Director of "Chand O Chokor" Swarna said "In the play the writer depicted the serious deterioration of human values and endless tiredness, loneliness among the people with broken dreams."

Such negative effects always put a bar on the way of human development but human beings go forward with their own affords, braving all odds, said the young director.

Earlier, marking the inaugural session of the festival, a discussion was held.

Prof Dr Mustafizur Rahman, vice-chancellor of the university inaugurated the festival as chief guest.

Chairman of Theatre and Performance Studies Department Ismot Ara Chowdhury Ela, teacher Md Ruhul Amin, registrar of the university Dr Humayun Kabir and chairman of Film and Media Department Tuhinoor Abontu addressed the event, among others.

The speakers said such festival is very fruitful for the students of Theatre and Performance Studies Department as they will lead the country in this art form in future.

The students are directing the play and acting as well, said the speakers adding "The performance of first year students  has also brought a very hope for the department in all  respects".