1 week Ago
On July 20, 2016, popular theatre troupe Teerondaz Repertory planned a theatrical debate and performance to raise awareness about saving the Sundarbans. However, the event was abruptly canceled by Liaquat Ali Lucky, former director general of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, effectively barring the theatre group from using the venue for the next eight years. Now, after a significant shift in the political landscape, marked by the student-led July Uprising that led to the fall of the Awami League government, Teerondaz Repertory has finally been given the green light to return to the stage at Shilpakala.
After this prolonged hiatus, the group is set to perform once again this Friday. Teerondaz Repertory will open with "Bagbitanda" (Verbal Duel), a public debate starting at 4pm, which is free and open to all. The debate will explore whether supporting a capable autocrat, instead of opposing them, accelerates development.
Actor and director Deepak Suman will advocate for the autocrat's cause, while Professor Anu Muhammad will present the counterargument. Audience members will have the opportunity to participate by testifying or advocating for either side. Following the debate, Teerondaz Repertory will stage two performances of "Konthonalite Surjo" (The Sun in the Windpipe), a play written by Mohit Chattopadhyay and directed by Deepak Suman.
The first show will begin at 5:30pm, with a second performance at 7:00pm. The play tells the story of a mysterious stranger who has carried the sun trapped in his windpipe for many years. He is torn between wanting to release it or letting it remain lodged in his heart forever.
As the boundaries of time, place, and identity blur, the stranger becomes a symbol of the pain and frustration of a mediocre life. Over time, he slowly transforms from a man into a dog. The cast features Quazi Nawshaba Ahmed, Shayor Niyogi, Kazi Toufikul Islam Emon, Yoshiya Joydeb Das, Romin Majumdar, Nishan Siam, and Deepak Suman.
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