12 troupes to stage 12 plays marking Bangladesh Theatre’s 40th anniversary
Published : 12 November 2026
•Updated : 12 November 2026, 16:37
•ENTERTAINMENT
Arts & Entertainment Desk
A nine-day theatre festival featuring 12 troupes begins tomorrow (November 13) at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy to mark the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh Theatre.
Titled “Bangladesh Natya Utsab 2026”, the Dhaka metropolitan leg is part of a broader 40-day nationwide celebration organised by the troupe. Twelve plays will be staged at 6:30 pm daily through November 21 across the National Theatre Hall’s main auditorium and the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Alongside the host troupe, participating groups include Theatre, Desh Natok, Bohubochon, Natyatirtha, Nandonik Natya Sampraday, Swapnadal, Nagorik Natyangan, Dhaka Theatre, Mahakal Natya Sampraday, Drishtipat Natya Sangsad, and Natyam Repertory.
Bangladesh Theatre will open the festival tomorrow evening at the main auditorium with “Siraj Jokhon Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah”, adapted and directed by Abdul Aziz.
On November 14, Theatre will stage “Baramkhana”, written by Pantha Shahriar and directed by Tropa Majumdar, at the main auditorium, while Mahakal Natya Sampraday presents “Nilakhyan”, written by Anon Zaman and directed by Yusuf Hasan Arko, at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
Desh Natok’s “Nityapuran”, adapted and directed by Masum Reza, will run at the main auditorium on November 15, alongside Drishtipat Natya Sangsad’s “Koyla Ronger Chador”, written and directed by MA Salam, at the Experimental Theatre Hall.
On November 16, Bohubochon will present “Aniket Sandhya” at the main auditorium, while Natyam Repertory stages “Domer Madar”, written by Sadhna Ahmed and directed by Irene Parveen Lopa, at the Experimental Theatre Hall
The remaining five productions will be held exclusively at the National Theatre Hall’s main auditorium: Natyatirtha’s “Dwip” on November 17, Nandonik Natya Sampraday’s “Nripati” on November 18, Swapnadal’s “Horgoj” on November 19, Nagorik Natyangan’s “Dui Pakhi O Nandini” on November 20, and Dhaka Theatre’s “Ekti Loukik Othoba Oloukik Steamer” on the closing night, November 21.
In addition to the stage productions, daily open-air cultural performances—including dance, music, and recitation—will take place on the academy premises from 4 pm throughout the festival.
