The theatre movement has a long history in this part of the world. However, it gained much popularity in post-1971 Bangladesh. Today there are a number of drama groups and their efforts have been appreciated both at home and abroad. 

Bailey Road in the capital widely known as Natakpara has been centre of our theatre practices as well as theatre performers. The Guide House and Mahila Samiti Auditorium are situated here. 

In 1964, the Girls Guide Association established the auditorium on Bailey Road. The auditorium is especially used for the theatrical activities including staging dramas. It charges one thousand taka for a session. There are morning and evening sessions. For using the auditorium, the groups apply formally to the authorities four times a year. The times are the first weeks of March, June, September and December. 

Bangladesh Mahila Samiti Auditorium is another widely known theatre manch in the capital. It charges two thousands taka for staging a drama. 
 
In 1999, the Dhaka City Corporation (DCC) constructed Mahanagar Natyamanch inside the children’s parka near Bangabhaban. The DCC constructed the stage at an estimated expenditure of Taka five crore on 3000 square feet area. The stage has an accommodation for 600 spectators with wide balconies. It is also equipped with modern public address (sound) and lightning systems, rehearsal rooms, a parking lot for 400 cars, a floating restaurant and other facilities. 

The International Theatre Institute (ITI) was established in 1948 under the auspices of UNICEF and about 90 countries including Bangladesh are enlisted as members of this forum. The institute has it’s headquarter in Paris. The main objective of ITI is to create a cultural bridge among the nations in the world. Playwrights, actors, actresses, theatre critics, publishers, essayists, theorists, dancers, choreographers, musicians---all have the right to participate in the ITI 
activities. The important components of the ITI are dramatic theatre, experimental theatre, theatre for education, theatrein search of cultural identity, dance theatre, musical theatre, etc.

Professor Syed Jamil Ahmed mentions in his write-up titled Hajar Batsarer Bangla Natok O Natyakala, “Purbo Banglar Natya Samaj was the first professional theatre group in Bengal. On 30 March 1872, it staged Ranabhishek by Manmohan Bose at East Bengal Dramatic Hall. After the breaking of the theatre group, in 1873, some members of it formed Dhaka Theatre Company.
 
In 1890, the Crown Theatre was formed. It staged drama like Chaitanylila, Purna Chandra Jana, Lily Majnu on every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night. In 1897, Diamond jubilee Theatre Company was established. The company staged the dramas including Durgesh Nandini, Devi Chowdhurani, Bijoy Basonto, etc. It was learnt that in 1925-26 the production cost of theatre was very high. So the professional theatre faces a hard time.”

Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) emerged as a pioneer professional theatre institution in Dhaka in 1994. Kamaluddin Nilu, General Secretary & Artistic Director of CAT, noted, "After 1947, in every district in Bangladesh, there was at least an institution for theatre. These institutions staged dramas regularly. But in the seventies, these mufassil theatres lost their glories. And after the Liberation War in 1971, we had another glorious period for our theatre. "

In 1979, the theatre groups in Dhaka organized a Theatre festival. On 29 November 1980, the theatre groups formed a federation called Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation (BGTF). 

The Centre for Asian Theatre (CAT) is a Dhaka based independent theatre organisation which aims at establishing professional theatre so that the social commitment is achieved. CAT was established in 1994.Kamaluddin Nilu, general secretary of CAT, said, CAT is involved in promoting theatrical practices, exchange programmes, research and preservation of research works with the objective of furthering the progress of theatrical movement in and outside Bangladesh. 

In 1986, a department for theatrical studies called the Department of Drama and Dramatics was established in the University of Jahangirnagar. In 1989, Dramatics and Music Department was introduced in the University of Dhaka. Then, Chitagong University launched studies on Theatre under the Department of Fine Arts. 

In 1976, Natyachakra, theatre group, established a school called Shikshangan and in 1990, Theatre Natyadal –another theatre group established a school called Theatre School. 

 
Anisur Rahman
Poet, writer, journalist