As the year begins, Dhaka's theatre scene is set to welcome two new plays— "Satkahon" by Navarasa Dance and Theatre Company and "The Rules of Love", a production by students from the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University.

The premiere of "Satkahon", the fourth production from Navarasa Dance and Theatre Company, will take place this evening at 6:30pm at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mohila Samity in the capital. Two more shows are scheduled for tomorrow at 5pm and 7pm at the same venue.

In "Satkahon", three women—an aspiring actress, a housewife, and a sex worker—get trapped in an elevator of a five-star hotel due to a mechanical failure. Initially, their interactions are filled with suspicion, arguments, and insults. However, as they begin sharing their personal stories, they discover shared experiences of oppression, exploitation, and struggles under a patriarchal society. 

This bond grows stronger as they realise they aren't each other's enemies but rather fellow fighters in the same battle. When the elevator is finally fixed, the women decide not to leave, having realised they have been deceived by men all along.

Directed by Syeda Shamsi Ara Sayeka and adapted by Shamim Sagar, the play stars Rosey Siddiqui, Syeda Shamsi Ara, and Mita Ganguly, among others. 

Regaeding the play Rosey Siddiqui shared to The Daily Star, "Dhaka Theatre is my home troupe, a place I love. For the first time, I'm performing with another group. We began working on 'Satkahon' during the pandemic, and today it's finally being staged."

She added, "'Satkahon' has a brilliant, women-centric script revolving around three women. I hope the audience will enjoy it and that it will be well-received."

On January 3 and 4, "The Rules of Love" will take the stage at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, with two performances each day at 3:30pm and 6:30pm. 

Directed by Assistant Professor Mehedi Tanzir of Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University's Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, the play is based on the novels "The Forty Rules of Love" by Elif Shafak and "The Way of Love" by Nigel Watts.

Set in two different time periods, "The Rules of Love" intertwines the tales of the friendship and eventual separation of Rumi and Shams, as well as the family and love story of Ella Rubinstein. The narrative delves into love, freedom, and the human experience.

The cast includes Shakil Ahmed, Rafael Afrad, Pallab Biswas, Jafrin Haque Toru, Parag Barman, Shahin Alam, Fatema Tuz Zahra, Ishrat Jannat, Manisha Saha, Habiba Akhter Pinki, Habiba Akhter Charu, Laboni Rani, Afia Jahan Prarthana, Farhana Amberin Leona, Tripti Rani Roy, Pipasha Saha Gauri, Priyanka Rani Das, and others.  

The technical crew includes Molla Alvi Mahmud, Ibrahim Khalil Apel, and Debjoy Chakraborty on lighting, while Hasan Miah and Nur E Hasanat Lisa are responsible for the music.

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