Theatre in our country nowadays is at the verge of death as it is being cornered gradually by numerous powerful factors. Our practice of theatre now depends on the halls we are allotted - once or twice a month upon application - which results in the performance of one or two plays with particular casts and crews followed by rehearsals for two or three days prior to the show. In such conditions, how can a theatre worker carry on with his theatre practice and explore his possibilities on a regular basis?
Keeping apart all our frustrations, we pointed out the sectors of our choice among us members of the group. We discovered some of us like to write over acting, some like only to act and direct, some others want to work on set and light design. We then clustered ourselves into small teams. Each month, we fixed two dates and two teams would prepare themselves with a play to perform on the given dates. A subtle competition began within us, to overcome our own selves. Theatre eventually sustained in our thoughts throughout the month.
Each of the team worked on writing scripts, direction, acting, set, light and costume and even publication. We overcame the challenge of the limitation of performance space and staged those plays on our courtyard - on our very rehearsal floor! There were paid tickets too, and our audience had been the members of our group and the friends from other theatre groups. Thus, the idea of ‘an alternative space for theatre’ started to spread its branches. We gained courage and performed some of our courtyard plays in an art institute in Uttara and they were well acclaimed!
Despite facing numerous obstacles and ignorance, each of the plays came out to be thought provoking and bewildering. The most interesting part was the exchange of opinion from the audience after the performances, which were short yet effective. Those evaluations had prolific reflections on the plays to be on the oven in the next months.
Following the successful response of the initiative of courtyard plays, we organized a festival of courtyard plays with some of the selected ones from our one and a half years’ journey, naming it ‘Mahala Magan’. The occasion of ‘Mahala Magan’ had been organized to make the journey of the young theatre enthusiasts more joyful and confident - for those who register for theatre works even after knowing the reality of present day, for those who want to ignore all the other factors and enjoy the practice of theatre.
‘Mahal Magan’ has brought the experienced and the beginner all under one roof, combining them together and boosting up the confidence for theatre practice. This initiative of courtyard plays has conceived paths for newer possibilities. It has inspired and intrigued courage in the mind of the young writers, directors, actors, designers to prepare themselves to embark on bigger ships from a smaller boat. We anticipate, the vision of theatre will gradually enhance from generation to generation. This only will save theatre, reawaken it.
May theatre get its glory back!
It was the first onset of the festival of courtyard drama, in March 2010 to showcase six of the selected plays produced and staged on the rehearsal floor of prachyanat.
In 2020, the festival took place again to showcase five plays produced and staged on the rehearsal floor of prachyanat.
278/3, Kataban Dhal, New Elephant Road, Dhaka 1205.
[Beside Ashta Byanjan Hotel]
Contact 8801313774400 (WhatsApp)
