The New Nation - Internet Edition

Farizaa Sabreen

French Drama Festival in Dhaka demonstrates wonderful cultural co-operation

existing between France and Bangladesh, said French Envoy. French drama festival has begun at National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the city recently. Alliance Française; Natuke, a theatre group and Fame, School of dance; drama and music jointly organising the festival.

Cultural adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury inaugurated the French drama festival as chief guest while French Ambassador Charley Causeret was present as special guest. Among others, playwrights Zia Haider, Syed Shamsul Huda, theatre director Ramendu Majumder, Sabin-ul Alam and Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation president H Hamid spoke on the occasion.

Inaugurating the French drama festival, Cultural Adviser Rasheda K Chowdhury hoped that such a foreign festival would help the local playwrights to be further enlightened with the artistic work of the famous playwrights.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony French Ambassador Charley Causuret has underlined that French Drama Festival is the evident demonstration of a wonderful cultural co-operation exiting between France and Bangladesh. French Embassy would like to extend all our support to this ambitious and well-thought initiative, he further added.

French envoy recalled that in France, which is historically very much attached to art and culture, the theatre field is very active with a lot of companies, theatre halls and a strong policy of support by the French government.

"Like France, Bangladesh also has a rich tradition of theatre with a lot of outstanding playwrights. I will only mention Mr Selim Al Din who passed away recently and who will be remembered for his exceptional work", said French Ambassador Charley Causseret.

He also told that besides Moliere, this French drama festival will also provide an opportunity to present another French author, Jean Anouilh with the play "Antigone", inspired by a Greek tragedy, and an adaptation of the play "The Trial" by the Czech author Franz Kafka.

Zia Hiader said that translation of staging of foreign plays would enrich our theatre tradition and practice.

Syed Shamsul Haq said, "For enriching our own world of the theatre, we have to familiarize foreign plays and playwrights to our people".

A number of French Drama will be staged during the festival. These plays are produced by Alliance Française, Chittagong and will be performed by the students of Fame.