BotTala to stage 100th show of ‘Khona’ at Shaheed Minar

BotTala Theatre Group’s acclaimed play “Khona” is set to reach a significant milestone with its 100th performance, more than a decade after it was first staged. 

The play premiered on March 8, 2010, at the Central Shaheed Minar in Dhaka. Over the years, the production has continued its journey, gradually moving toward this landmark moment.

Marking a symbolic return to its roots, BotTala has chosen the Shaheed Minar as the venue for the 100th staging as well. The special performance is scheduled to take place on April 11.

To celebrate the occasion, BotTala Theatre Group has planned a two-day festival at the Shaheed Minar on April 10 and 11, featuring a range of cultural and community-oriented activities.

According to the organisers, a chemical-free agricultural products fair will begin at 10 am on April 10. The daylong fair will showcase a variety of fertiliser-free agricultural food products brought from different parts of the country.

The festival will also feature “Matir Pathshala” (Clay School), where children will learn how to create different items using clay. In addition, there will be group performances by children.

The chemical-free agricultural products fair will continue on the morning of April 11. Later in the evening, at 7 pm, the 100th performance of “Khona” will take the stage. After the show, artistes and crew members associated with the production will be honoured for their contributions.

A special exhibition titled “Khona Through the Audience’s Camera” will also be held during the two-day festival. The exhibition will display photographs from various performances of the play, captured by audience members over the years. The top 10 photographs selected from the exhibition will receive awards.

“Khona” is a play that raises questions about women’s rights and class inequality. Although the story dates back roughly 1,500 years, its themes remain deeply relevant today. The narrative highlights how the first barrier a woman often faces when stepping outside the home originates from within the household itself.

The play also explores the legacy of agricultural wisdom and knowledge that has been passed down through generations in Khona’s name, while confronting audiences with deeper truths that transcend the many questions surrounding her life.

Read more

Together in prayers, together in festivities

Written by Samina Luthfa Nitra and directed by Mohammad Ali Haider, the play features Kazi Roksana Ruma, Evan Riaz, Imran Khan Munna, Taufique Hassan, Mizanur Rahman, Sheyuti Shahgufta, Kamaruzzaman Saeed, Hafiza Akter, Chandan Pal, and Abdul Kader, among others, in various roles.