A month-long traditional Jatra (folk theatre) festival kicks off in the capital today. Organised by the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, the festival will run throughout December in celebration of Victory Month.
Daily shows will be staged at 6:30 pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Academy. Tickets are priced at Tk 100, with all proceeds going directly to the participating troupes—an initiative designed to support artistes committed to preserving this centuries-old performance tradition.
A total of thirty one theatre groups will present 31 Jatra plays over the month. Among them, Paikgachha Khulna’s Surjatarun Natya Sanstha will stage Mrityuur Chokhe Jol, choreographed by Debendranath and directed by Pranab Mandal. Shibp ur Narsingdi’s New Zahura Opera will perform Kashem Malar Prem, choreographed by Shamsul Haque and directed by Mostafizur Rahman.
Belabo Narsingdi’s Jatradal Banglar Nayak Opera will stage “Sagar Bhasa”, choreographed (palakar) by Jasimuddin and directed by Mehedi Hasan Ratan. Debhata Satkhira’s Debhata Natya Sanstha will present “Abhagini Bodhu”, choreographed by Mahadeb Haldar and directed by MA Hannan.
The Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy Repertory Jatra Unit will perform “General Osmani”, with Riju Lakshmi Aborodh as choreographer and Shamim Khandaker as director. Khulna’s Rupsha Opera will stage “Meghe Dhaka Tara”, choreographed by Ranjan Debnath and directed by Mithun Islam Tisu.
Additionally, the open courtyard of the National Theatre Hall will host daily patriotic Jatra song concerts from 5:00 pm, celebrating the spirit of the Liberation War.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
