The New Nation - Internet Edition

Entertainment Report

Theatre troupe Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) received Ibsen Scholarships for International Ibsen Projects 2008 at the National Theatre Stage in Oslo in Norway on September 1.

This was disclosed at a press conference organised by CAT at Dhaka Reporters Unity recently. Prof Abdul Mannan, President of CAT, Mosharraf Hossain, General Secretary, Rokeya Rafiq Baby, Member of the Executive Committee of CAT, among others, were present at the conference.

Speakers said, the Ministry of Culture of Norway provides scholarships for international Ibsen projects to a person or institution that works to uphold the spirit of Ibsen. The projects do not necessarily have to be plays by Ibsen or translations, nor do they have to refer directly to Ibsen.

CAT has produced several plays by Ibsen such as Ghosts, Wild Duck, A Doll's House, Peer Gynt and Brand. Moreover, it has produced Resurrection, based on Ibsen's life and works, written by Kamaluddin Nilu. As part of the scholarship, CAT is currently planning to produce The Lady from the Sea, they said.

Prof Mannan said, "CAT wishes to establish a leading international Ibsen centre in Asia, and therefore needs to develop and educate their staff in several of the theatrical professions." Besides CAT, The Commonwealth Theatre of USA, Writers Projects in Afghanistan and herStay of Norway received the scholarships, he said.