The New Nation - Internet Edition

Art & Culture Report

Department of Theatre of Dhaka University has organised a month-long workshop to train its students in 'Jatra' convention. Joytsna Biswas, SM Mohsin, Milan Kanti Dey, Sultan Selim, Rikta Sultana and other famous jatra artistes will be present as instructing participants about the conventions of this form of theatre through demonstrations. They will be informing them about the techniques, history, performance and evolution of jatra.

Through this workshop and the production of the play 'Shahjahan,' the jatra tradition is going to become part of the curriculum of the Department of Theatre of Dhaka University.

Funded by a grant made by Nazir Ahmed and Syed Ahmed, this month-long workshop on the jatra with the presentation of 'Shahjahan' were staged at the Natmondol Auditorium of Dhaka University by the third year students of the Department of Theatre on October 31 and November 1.

Prof Dr SMA Faiz, Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University was present as chief guest at the presentation, while Prof Dr AFM Yusuf Haider, Pro-Vice Chancellor of Dhaka University (DU), Syed Abul Kalam Azad, Treasurer of the DU, Prof Dr Sadrul Amin, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Prof Dr Harun-or-Rashid, Dean of the Social Science of DU, Dr Israfil Shaheen, Chairman of the Department of Theatre of DU, among others, were present on the occasion.

The jatra-based play Shahjahan will be staged from November 8 to 17 at of the TSC Auditorium as part of the Dhaka University Central Theatre Festival organised by the Department of Theatre. The VC of DU will inaugurate the festival as chief guest.