Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) plays its role on theatrical studies, research, workshop and seminar on different subjects related to theatre in the world at large. In this regard CAT organises a number of seminars, workshops and conferences accordingly.  The programmes are as follows: 

Ibsen Commemoration 2006
International Ibsen Conference : Socio-political Aspects of Ibsen's Plays
The international conference included scholars and theatre practitioners from Asia, Europe and Africa. Keynote speaker was  Merete Morken Andersen, novelist and writer of The Ibsen's Handbook, Norway. There were three main speakers: Mitsuya Mori, professor, Department of Art Studies, Seijo University, Tokyo, Japan, Jon Nygaard, professor, Centre for Ibsen Studies, University of Oslo, Norway and Munzur-i-Mowla, poet and writer, Bangladesh. The conference took place during the period 11-13 May at Hotel Purbani International in Dhaka. more...

The Relevance of A Doll’s House
—Translation and Adaptation, International Ibsen Conference and Theatre Festival

Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT), in collaboration with the Centre for Ibsen Studies, University of Oslo, Norway organised the international event in Dhaka, Bangladesh during the period 8-14 November 2002 with the support from Royal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway and the National Ibsen Committee, Oslo, Norway.

The Conference was inaugurated by Mr. Lars Roar Langslet, Chairman, National Ibsen Committee, and former Minister to the Ministry of Culture, Norway. Mr. Kamaluddin Nilu, Secretary General of CAT and Convener of the Conference and Theatre Festival, read out a welcome speech in the inauguration session. Muhammad Habibur Rahman, former chief advertisor to the caretaker government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh; H.E. Ms. Gerd Wahlstroem, Ambassador, Royal Norwegian Embassy; and Professor Knut Brynhildsvoll, Director, Centre for Ibsen Studies, University of Oslo, were present as special guests.

The Conference was participated by 21 theatre scholars and practitioners from Denmark, India, Japan, Nepal, Norway, Sweden and Zambia; and one hundred theatre practitioners and academicians from Bangladesh. A good number of papers on various themes of Henrik Ibsen’s A Doll’s House were present in the Conference.

“Natyotsav”—A Classical Sanskrit Theatre Symposium
Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT), in collaboration with the High Commission of India and Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), organised “Natyotsav” – A Classical Sanskrit Theatre Symposium in Dhaka during the period 2-7 December 1999. National Professor of Bangladesh, Professor Kabir Chowdhury, inaugurated the international event on 2 December.

Kamaluddin Nilu, Secretary General to CAT, read out welcome speech at the inaugural ceremony. The function was presided over by Professor Abdul Mannan, President to CAT and Vice Chancellor to Chittagong University. The inaugural ceremony was also addressed among others by the Indian High Commissioner Deb Mukharji as Special Guest; Ataur Rahman, Secretary General, ITI-Bangladesh; Ramendu Majumdar, President, Sammilita Sanskritik Jote; Sara Zaker, President, Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation; and S M Mohsin, Director, Theatre and Film Department, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. An excellent dance performance was presented in the inaugural ceremony by Sharmila Bandyopadhyaya and her troupe. CAT also took the opportunity to show special honour to two prominent theatre personalities of Bangladesh, Syed Shamsul Haq and Abdullah Al Mamun, for their remarkable contribution in the field of theatre. Two outstanding theatre directors from India, M K Raina and Ratan Thiyam, on behalf of CAT, paid tributes to them.

The various events of the six-day long symposium included performances of Sanskrit theatre and other traditional theatre of India, seminar sessions, working group meeting for elaborate discussion on Sanskrit theatre, theatre workshops, demonstration programmes on Sanskrit theatre and various forms of traditional theatre, production-based film/video show on traditional and classical theatre in Bangladesh and India, exhibition of the model of Sanskrit theatre architecture, etc.

In the various sessions of the four-day long seminar, a number of theatre personalities, theatre scholars and practitioners from different countries of the world presented their papers and took part in discussion. Among them were Kapila Vatsyayan, M K Raina, Ratan Thiyam, Ramgopal Bajaj, BV Karanth, Bansi Kaul, Probir Guha and Nripendra Saha from India; Professor John Russell Brown from UK; Dr. Dallas McCurley and Adiar Gilbert from USA; Dr. Christina Nygren and Camilla Fredman from Sweden; and Syed Shamsul Haq, Ataur Rahman, Ramendu Majumdar, Dr. Syed Jamil Ahmed, Dr. Razia Khan Amin, Kamaluddin Nilu, Niranjan Adhikari, Sara Zaker, Pijush Bandyopadhyaya, Afroza Banu and Rokeya Rafique Baby from Bangladesh.

Seminar on Popular and Folk Theatre in China and Japan
To create an opportunity for discussion on the popular theatre and dance in China and Japan, CAT organised a seminar on “Popular and Folk Theatre in China and Japan—Theatre of and for People: A Contexualised View on Popular Theatre” at the Goethe Institut – Dhaka, on 29 April 1999. The keynote speaker was Dr. Christina Nygren, Stockholm University, Sweden, a scholar on Asian theatre, specialising on Chinese and Japanese theatre. Ataur Rahman, General Secretary, ITI-Bangladesh, presided over the seminar. Dr. Nygren shared her experience about the popular theatre and dance of China and Japan and exemplified performances and presentation style of the same through video and slides.

Seminar on ‘Encounter between East and West’
In the day-long seminar on “Encounter between East and West” organised by CAT at the Russian Cultural Centre, Dhaka, on 19 December 1998, the keynote papers were presented by Haukur J. Gunnarsson, Artistic Director, Haalogaland Theatre, Tromsoe, Norway, and Mamunur Rashid, a famous Playwright and Theatre Director of Bangladesh. The seminar sessions were presided over by Syed Shamsul Haq and Nasiruddin Yousuff. Those who took part in the discussions are Tarik Anam Khan, Syed Jamil Ahmed, M K Raina (India), S M Mohsin and Bhashwar Bandyopadhyaya. Altogether 100 theatre scholars and teachers exchanged their views in the seminar through which emerged some new thoughts in terms of development of theatrical practice in Bangladesh and of encounter between East and West. CAT published the proceedings of the seminar.

International Seminar on ‘Gender Issues in Ibsen’s Plays’ 
The world famous Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen is of relevance to most contemporary societies. In his social plays, Ibsen questioned the unequal relationships between man and woman as this has been created and is maintained by social and religious value systems. In a country like Bangladesh Ibsen’s works can easily be adapted to describe present gender disparities and to create awareness about the equal rights of man and woman and their worth as human beings. 

CAT organised an International Ibsen Seminar and Workshop on Gender Issues in Ibsen’s Plays during February 15-24, 1997 with the financial assistance from the Royal Norwegian Embassy. The seminar was inaugurated by the advisor to the former caretaker government of Bangladesh Justice Habibur Rahman. This seminar was attended by 15 scholars on Ibsen and academicians from seven different countries of the world as well as 94 theatre scholars, teachers and theatre critics of Bangladesh. Various sessions of the seminar were presided over by Professor Niaz Zaman, Professor Anisuzzaman, Professor Razia Khan Amin, Professor Kabir Chowdhury, Professor Zillur Rahman Siddiquee, Professor Ali Anwar, Ramendu Majumdar and Aly Zaker. Those who presented keynote papers in the various seminar sessions are Professor Asbjorn Aarseth, Professor Astrid Saether, Professor Vigdis Ystad, Professor Ingunn Hiorth, and Professor Gertrud Sather, Norway; Professor Erik Osterud, Denmark; Professor Mitsuya Mori, Japan; Professor Thomas H. Arthur, USA; Glen Sevilla Mas and Nancy Almonte, the Philippines; Professor Kirti Jain, Professor Rati Bartholomew and Sandhya Dey, India; and Ataur Rahman, Professor Shafi Ahmed, Professor Golam Sarwar Chowdhury, Professor Sonia Amin, and Faridur Rahman, Bangladesh. Proceedings of the International Ibsen Seminar were published following its completion, which have now been preserved in the various theatre research centres of the world. 

Apart from the International Ibsen Seminar, the four Ibsen-related workshops were 
also organised.

Seminar on ‘Encounter between East and West’
CAT organised a theatre workshop and seminar on ‘Encounter between East and West’ in six important towns of Bangladesh (Dhaka, Chittagong, Comilla, Sylhet, Khulna and Cox’s Bazar) during 1–5 March 1994. Around 1000 theatre workers of the country took part in this programme. As a complement of this programme the main seminar session was organised at the British Council auditorium, Dhaka, on 5 March, with Kamal Lohani in the chair. Santosh Gupta was present at the seminar as Chief Guest. The keynote-speakers of the seminar were Dr. Christina Nygren, Sweden and Syed Manzoorul Islam. This complementary seminar session was participated by about 100 theatre workers, theatre teachers and technicians.