Theatre troupe Palakar staged its 100th performance of ‘Dakghar’, a theatre production directed by Shamim Sagar, at the studio theatre hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Friday.
One of the popular plays in Bengali ‘Dakghar’, written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1912, was translated and adapted in many languages and staged across the globe.
The play premiered at Palakar’s studio in November 2006 and the production was staged in the country’s prestigious theatre festivals and different venues.
After a 12-year break, Palakar staged the production on Friday.
The play revolves around a boy named Amal who is adopted by Madhavadatta. Amal has been diagnosed with a terminal illness and his family keeps him confined to his room, hoping to keep him away from the outside world. His imagination is boundless and his curiosity about the outside world is symbolised in his obsession with the post office, which becomes the central motif of the play. The post office creates a bridge between the material and the spiritual world while he believes the post office can deliver not just letters but a message from the unknown, from the divine realm. The play ends with the death of Amal.
‘In the play, we celebrate death, which is also the fulfilment of life. The play portrays death as freedom,’ Shamim Sagar said, adding that in the journey of 100th shows a lot of members were added and some left from the team, but the play attracted audiences and critics recognition.
Aminur Rahman Mukul designed the stage while Junayed Yousuf designed the light for the production and Nahida Sharmin and Charu Pintu designed the costume.
The cast includes Farhad Limon, Suman, Ashiq, Shuvo, Nahida Sharmin, Ferdousi Shormi, Nahrin, Charu Pintu, Iktarul, Tuhin, Setu, Shahjahan, Peter, Robin and Aminur Rahman Mukul.
Palakar staged one show of the play on Thursday and two shows on Friday at the same venue.  Â
