AN INTERVIEW
PLAYWRIGHT : TUSHER ROY
- How did your journey in theatre begin ?
- I have been associated with Faridpur Theatre since 2001. Over the years, I have taken on various responsibilities within the group. Most recently, I served as the General Secretary of the organization.
- What areas of theatre have you worked in ?
- In the earlier phase of my career, I was actively involved in both acting and directing. However, at present, I am primarily focused on playwriting and dedicating most of my time to writing.
- Which of your plays have been staged ?
- Several of my plays have been performed by different theatre groups. Some notable works include "Kantha","Gunin Akhyan","Raja Gilgamesh", "Manoshik Goddo","Panchamir Chand","Nishkritir Boyan","Shesh Samrat", and "Nil Kahon".
- Could you tell us about your style of playwriting ?
- Alongside original plays, I also enjoy adapting literary works and historical events into theatrical scripts. This approach allows me to bring diversity into my work and present meaningful narratives to the audience.
- How did you become involved with Japanese language, literature, and culture ?
- Since 2017, I have been serving as the CEO of the United Nations of Organisation Japan Asia Cultural Exchange, Bangladesh. Through this role, I have gained valuable experience working with Japanese language, literature, and culture. I have been using this experience to create plays based on stories by popular Japanese authors.
- Has your work received any international recognition ?
- Yes, indeed. An Indian theatre group, Kankinara Shilpangan, has already staged the production "PANCHAMIR CHAND", a drama written by me based on Sadat Hasan Manto's 'khol do'. They have successfully completed 9th show of this drama recently. They currently planning to stage my play "MAP of HELL". This is a matter of great pride and joy for me.
- Tell us about your experience working with theatre and folk culture.
- Due to my professional responsibilities, I have had the opportunity to work with theatre and folk culture across various districts of Bangladesh. These experiences have greatly enriched my creative perspective and writing.
- Are you involved in any other creative or academic work ?
- Yes, I am actively engaged in writing articles and conducting research on diverse and emerging topics. Exploring new ideas is something I deeply enjoy.
- What is your vision for the future of Bengali theatre ?
- My aspiration is for Bengali theatre to gain international recognition. I believe it is important to develop a professional theatre culture similar to that of developed countries, where theatre practitioners can sustain themselves entirely through their craft.
- What do you think is necessary to achieve this vision ?
- While many groups are already producing excellent work, sustaining this momentum requires strong support. Both government and private patronage are crucial to ensuring the continued growth and development of Bengali theatre.
