The 23rd batch of Aranyak Theatre Pathshala, a schooling programme of Aranyak Natyadal, staged its final production titled Ganer Pakhi at the Studio Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in Dhaka on Wednesday.

Adapted by writer-journalist Abul Momen based on a Buddhadeva Bose-translated Hans Christian Andersen’s story titled The Nightingale, Rubli Chowdhury has directed the play.

The play depicts the tragic story of a singing bird, which is expelled from the king’s palace for claiming that the country’s citizens are unhappy.

A minister of the state brings new toy birds for the king, but when the toys break, the king falls ill.

The play symbolises the destruction of nature and the rise of mechanism in society and the arts, showing how culture perishes due to the abuse of technology.

Parimal Majumder has composed music while Thandu Raihan has designed the lights and Hashim Masud has designed the stage and props for the play.  Theatre activist Mamunur Rashid and playwright Abul Momen also spoke at the venue, following the performance.