An eight-day theatre festival showcasing new productions from across the country will begin today at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, with Dinajpur Natya Samity’s “Chor-er Naam Charandas” opening the event.
Titled “Notun Natoker Utsab 2026”, the festival will run from June 12 to June 19 under the theme, New plays, new times—let the voices of people awaken on stage. Organised by the academy’s Theatre and Film Department, the festival aims to promote, preserve and expand Bangladesh’s theatre culture.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at the National Theatre Hall seminar room yesterday.
Speaking at the event, the academy’s Director General Rezauddin Stalin said the institution is working to encourage new creative initiatives across cultural fields and strengthen public engagement with the arts.
“We want to take theatre closer to ordinary people. Theatre remains one of the most effective tools for addressing social decline and inspiring people to move forward. We want audiences to come, watch plays and engage critically with them,” he said.
Detailing the programme, Theatre and Film Department Director Dipak Kumar Goswami said the festival will feature eight productions over eight days.
Alongside the opening production “Chor-er Naam Charandas”, audiences will see “Rina Plung” by Young Bonghung Theatre of Bandarban, “Oedipus” by Drishyakabya, “Cafe de Volte” by Hunt Theatre, “Byatikrom O Niyom” by Prachyanat, “Rongmahal” by Dhaka Theatre, “Mahakaler Antorjatra” by Natyayan of Sylhet, and “The Great Smuggler” by Shobdo Theatre of Jashore on the closing day.
All productions will be staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall of the National Theatre Hall at 7:00pm daily.
The festival will be inaugurated on Friday afternoon. Adviser to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism Afroza Khanam will attend as chief guest. Adviser to the Ministries of Information and Broadcasting and Cultural Affairs Dr Zahed Ur Rahman will be present as special guest, while Israfil Shaheen will deliver the keynote address. Engineer Zakir Hossain, joint convener of JASAS (Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Samajik Sangskritik Sangstha), has also been invited as a guest.
Culture Secretary Kaniz Mawla will preside over the opening ceremony. Rezauddin Stalin will deliver the welcome address, while Dipak Kumar Goswami will offer the vote of thanks.
As part of the festival, a daily session titled “Bangla Natoker Gaan” will be held from 6:00pm to 6:45pm in the Experimental Theatre Hall lobby. Participating groups include teams led by Aleya Begum and Almas Sarkar from Manikganj, Padatik Natya Sangsad TSC, Bhairabi Gitorong Dal, Theatre Circle (Munshiganj), Tirandaz Repertory, Aranyak Natyadal, Bottola and Udichi Theatre Department.
The festival will also host a five-day workshop for emerging theatre directors from June 15 to June 19 at the International Digital Cultural Archive Room of the National Theatre Hall. The workshop, scheduled from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily, will accommodate up to 25 participants.
