The show goes on

Throughout most of last year, the realities of physical restrictions on performances, audience attendance, staff movements and theatre closures posed significant challenges to artistes staging a work in any conventional sense. Concerts, large-scale blockbusters and full theatrical productions were some of the earliest to be shut down by the pandemic worldwide, and may well be among the last to return to form.

Nonetheless, braving challenges, towards the end of 2020, theatre artistes in Bangladesh slowly resumed work.

After being closed for several months due to the coronavirus crisis, the Bangladesh Mahila Samity (BMS) reopened in August last year with "Lal Jomin", presented by the Shunyan Repertory Theatre. They had a limited audience, and ensured all social distancing and safety measures.

BMS staged Loko Natyadal's "Kanjoosh", one of Bangladesh's most popular theatrical productions, at their auditorium yesterday. It is based on the famous comedy "The Miser" by French playwright Moliere.

"Kanjoosh" has been staged over 700 times in the country. This production, presented by Loko Natyadal (Banani), is adapted by Tariq Anam Khan and directed by Kamrun Nur Chowdhury, featuring Abdullah Al Harun, Eugene Gomez, Samsad Begum, and Anwar Kaiser among others.

From a previous production of the play. Courtesy: Loko Natyadal

"We didn't make any compromises on or changes to the script of the play because of the pandemic," shares director Kamrun Nur Chowdhury. "All members of the cast and crew were tested for Covid-19, before they began working on the project. They were all in good health. We only focused on the work at hand, and maintained social distancing guidelines as much as possible during rehearsals. We were all excited to be working again."

The quickening pace of many performance venues reopening in recent weeks has underlined the importance of providing opportunity, backing and space for creators in these critical times.