CELEBRATING SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND WORK

‘A Different Romeo and Juliet’ staged at Shilpakala Academy

Marking legendary British playwright William Shakespeare’s 400th death anniversary, the British Council, in collaboration with Dhaka Theatre and Graeae Theatre Company (UK), staged two consecutive shows of a 75-minute play titled ‘A Different Romeo and Juliet’ at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on March 28 and 29. The production is going to be truly unique in a way that, it was performed in its entirety by 14 highly talented artists with disability. It was led by Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director of Graeae Theatre Company in collaboration with Dhaka Theatre’s Nasiruddin Yousuff, renowned Bangladeshi director. The play has been premiered at the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on 28 March.
“Shakespeare Lives is the British Council’s global cultural programme in 2016. It is about sparking cultural exchange through the shared language of Shakespeare. One of our major initiatives in Bangladesh is A Different Romeo and Juliet, an inspirational theatre production with a group of talented artists who are differently abled. We hope this play will contribute in changing people’s perceptions of life, and the right to love and be loved,” said Matt Pusey. The British Council initiated this project in 2013 with an aim to empower people with disabilities by facilitating social inclusion through theatre workshops that helped them explore their identity and infused an enriched sense of self-worth. This has now led to a new Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet in 2016, to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright. The artists had been drawn from Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP-Bangladesh), Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), Bangladesh Reform Initiatives for Development, Governance and Empowerment (BRIDGE) and Gram Theatre. The play was performed in front of the general public comprising of a targeted audience of policy makers, organisations and other stakeholders working with people with disabilities, special needs schools and the average theatre lovers.

CELEBRATING SHAKESPEARE’S LIFE AND WORK

‘A Different Romeo and Juliet’ staged at Shilpakala Academy

Marking legendary British playwright William Shakespeares 400th death anniversary, the British Council, in collaboration with Dhaka Theatre and Graeae Theatre Company (UK), staged two consecutive shows of a 75-minute play titled A Different Romeo and Juliet at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on March 28 and 29. The production is going to be truly unique in a way that, it was performed in its entirety by 14 highly talented artists with disability. It was led by Jenny Sealey, Artistic Director of Graeae Theatre Company in collaboration with Dhaka Theatres Nasiruddin Yousuff, renowned Bangladeshi director. The play has been premiered at the National Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on 28 March. Shakespeare Lives is the British Councils global cultural programme in 2016. It is about sparking cultural exchange through the shared language of Shakespeare. One of our major initiatives in Bangladesh is A Different Romeo and Juliet, an inspirational theatre production with a group of talented artists who are differently abled. We hope this play will contribute in changing peoples perceptions of life, and the right to love and be loved, said Matt Pusey. The British Council initiated this project in 2013 with an aim to empower people with disabilities by facilitating social inclusion through theatre workshops that helped them explore their identity and infused an enriched sense of self-worth. This has now led to a new Shakespeare production of Romeo and Juliet in 2016, to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright. The artists had been drawn from Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed (CRP-Bangladesh), Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC), Bangladesh Reform Initiatives for Development, Governance and Empowerment (BRIDGE) and Gram Theatre. The play was performed in front of the general public comprising of a targeted audience of policy makers, organisations and other stakeholders working with people with disabilities, special needs schools and the average theatre lovers.