Padatik Natya Sangsad is set to open its new production, "Alibaba ebong Chollish Chor" (Alibaba and the Forty Thieves) with performances on Saturday and Sunday, November 8-9, at 7pm in the Experimental Theatre Hall of the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. This marks Padatik's 45th production.

Adapted from the "Arabian Nights", the play was dramatised by Ummey Hanee and staged under the creative direction and blocking of Sudip Chakroborthy. It weaves the familiar tale of woodcutter Alibaba, who discovers a hidden treasure, and his brother Qasim, whose greed leads to his demise, into the larger story of Scheherazade. Through her storytelling, Scheherazade saves lives and gradually restores the ruler's humanity.

The production highlights themes of justice and social fairness. The cunning servant Marjina outwits the thieves, and the play ends with the defeated criminals facing the law and the treasure implicitly redistributed among the people.

The cast features Shariful Islam Safi, Megha Ghosh, Syeda Shamsi Ara Sayeka, Ziaul Haque, Zinia Azad, Shakhawat Hossain Shimul, Hasina Akter Nipa, Jabed Patwari, Ibrahim Khalil, Nur-e-Alam Suman, Nurunnahar Papia, Kamrunnesa Dolon, Tanmay Biswas, SM Limon, Nusrat Jahan Bonna, Barsha Ghosh, Sabuj Khan, Tapu Chandra Das, Monir Hossain Chishti, Rabeya Rabu, and Sabbir Ahmed, among others.

Creative and technical contributions include assistant direction and lighting by Ahmed Raufur Rahim; music planning by Rudra Saujal Kabya and Raisa Hasin; song training by Azizul Himel; sound design by Rudra Saujal Kabya; choreography and movement by Syeda Shamsi Ara; costume design by Munira Mahzabin Mimo; and props and jewellery planning by Syeda Shamsi Ara and Ummey Hanee.

Tickets and further information are available at the Shilpakala Academy box office and through the production's contact channels.