French playwright to stage comedy on Dhaka’s street hawkers

Entertainment Desk :

Dhaka is often called a city of hawkers. From sidewalks to bus stations, rail platforms to narrow streets, hawkers are everywhere, selling all kinds of affordable goods.

Thousands of hawkers in Dhaka make a living each day by catching the attention of passersby, chanting catchy phrases to describe their merchandise.

In honour of these vibrant figures of the city, Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) is bringing a comedy play titled ‘Song of Hawkers’ to the stage.

The play will be showcased at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy at 3:30pm on March 20 and 21.

Directed by French playwright Zazie Hayoun Jazzy, ‘Song of Hawkers’ focuses on the daily lives of Dhaka’s hawkers through three light-hearted stories-‘The Secret’, ‘The Thief Rewarded’, and ‘The Competition’.

The play uses the 19th-century French theatre style called Grand Guignol, blending comedy, songs, dance, and puppetry to portray the hawkers’ colorful personalities.

Prajna Tasnuva Rubayyat serves as the assistant director of the production.

Rahul Ananda has designed the music, while the choreography is done by Farhad A Shamim.

The cast includes actors like Imam Hossain, MS Rana, PK Fazal, and Suraiya Mou.

Interested audiences will have to book a seat for this free-of-cost play by registering online.