Today marks the World Mime Day and 95th birth anniversary of the world famous mime artiste Marcel Marceau. On the occasion, Bangladesh Mime Federation has organised a three-day event titled ‘Jatiya Mime Utsab 2017’ (National Mime Festival) on the premises of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA).
President of Sammilita Sangskritik Jote Golam Kuddus inaugurated the festival yesterday evening. With the slogan ‘Shuddho Sangskriti Rukhbe, Apasangskritir Sakal Dar’, the festival will continue till tomorrow at the Studio Theatre of BSA, Segun Bagicha in the capital.
Presided over by Mime Federation President Zahid Repon, Kamal Bayezid and Khorshedul Alam were present as special guests at yesterday’s event. Muktomancha Nirbakdal, DU Mime Action and Shamuk Theatre presented mime performances.
Today, on the occasion of Marceau’s birth anniversary and World Mime Day, a rally will be brought out at BSA at 4pm, while Bangladesh Mime Federation secretary general Rijowan Rajon will present a keynote paper on ‘Artform of Mime’ at a seminar at 4pm. Presided over by noted thespian Ataur Rahman, Kamal Uddin Kabir, Israfil Ahmed Rangan, Zahid Repon, Ananta Hira, Farzana Mousumi, Nithor Mahbub and Mir Lokman, among others, will take part in the discussion programme.
On the other hand, Swapnadal will stage their mimodrama ‘Jadur Pradip’ today at 7pm at Studio Theatre Hall. A ‘mimodrama’, as the troupe calls it, ‘Jadur Pradip’ is based on the overly familiar fairy tale ‘Aladdin and the Magic Lamp’. The play has been adapted and directed by Zahid Repon. The central message of the production is the triumph of good over evil.
Tomorrow, on the concluding day of the festival, Dr Enamul Haq will attend the closing ceremony as chief guest, while Jhuna Chowdhury, Shahidul Hasan Shamim and Dheman Saha Jewel will be present as special guests. Besides, Pantomime Movement, Gentleman Pantomime and Shruti Sangskritik Academy will come up with mime shows at the event.
Born on March 22, 1923 in Strasbourg, France, Marcel Marceau became one of the most famous mime artistes in the world. In 2011, United Nations announced the day as World Mime Day. l