Asia Series Vol.5: Trans-fields
Swapnadal
Tringsha Shatabdee (30th Century)
Adapted and Directed by Zahid Repon
- A prayer for future peace resonating across geography and history
The Bangladesh-based Swapnadal (Dreamteam) presents the long-awaited Japanese premiere of this work that it has continued to perform regularly for 17 years since 2002 and also as a special show on August 6th every year, the day of the annual Hiroshima Peace Memorial Ceremony.
Adapted from a 1966 play by the Indian playwright Badal Sircar that is based on testimony of Hiroshima and Nagasaki survivors as well as interviews with people involved in the development of the atom bomb and the actual bombings, this new version reflects the modern history of Bangladesh and current state of world affairs. It is adapted and directed by the head of the company, Zahid Repon, whose powerful message is conveyed by vibrant ritual textiles, newspapers that serve as symbols of information, and the bodies of the actors as well as a traditional theatre style that interweaves storytelling and song.
Sircar wrote the original play in Bengali, which was recognized as the official language of Bangladesh in 1952, when the nation was still under the rule of Pakistan and known as East Pakistan. The play is staged here at a theatre near Ikebukuro Nishiguchi Park, where there is a replica of the Shaheed Minar monument that commemorates those killed in the Bengali Language Movement. In this way, this performance forms a multilayered prayer for peace that transcends time and place.
Information
| Venue | Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Theatre West) |
|---|---|
| Dates |
11/3 (Sat) 18:00 |
| Running Time | 90 min. (TBC) |
| Language | Performed in Bengali with Japanese surtitles |
| Tickets | Advance: ¥3,500 / Same Day: ¥4,000 Students: ¥2,300 / Other tickets available All seats reserved |
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|---|---|---|
| Early Bird Discount | ￥2,500 | |
| Festival Pass (5 Performances) | ￥2,800 | |
| Festival Pass (3 Performances) | ￥3,000 | |
| Students Student ID required |
￥2,300 | |
| High School Students and Under Student ID or proof of age required |
￥1,000 | |
Artist Profiles
Swapnadal
Founded in Dhaka in 2001 by Zahid Repon, Swapnadal deals with contemporary themes while using traditional Bengal theatre approaches mixing storytelling with song and dance. It has presented its body of 17 works, including Tagore’s poetic drama “Chitrangada,” Howard Fast’s “Spartacus,” and the monodrama “Helen Keller,” at various theatre festivals in and outside Bangladesh. In 2015, it performed “Tringsha Shatabdee (30th Century)” at a London theatre festival and India’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the largest theatre festival in Asia.
Founded in Dhaka in 2001 by Zahid Repon, Swapnadal deals with contemporary themes while using traditional Bengal theatre approaches mixing storytelling with song and dance. It has presented its body of 17 works, including Tagore’s poetic drama “Chitrangada,” Howard Fast’s “Spartacus,” and the monodrama “Helen Keller,” at various theatre festivals in and outside Bangladesh. In 2015, it performed “Tringsha Shatabdee (30th Century)” at a London theatre festival and India’s Bharat Rang Mahotsav, the largest theatre festival in Asia.
Photo: Swapnadal
Zahid Repon
Director, Actor, Director of Swapnadal-
Born in 1969, Zahid Repon is the director of the company Swapnadal. He holds bachelor and master’s degrees from Jahangirnagar University with a major in theatre directing. He has been involved with theatre for 32 years as a director, actor, trainer, organizer and researcher. He serves as director of the National Institute of Mass Communication as well as chair of the Bangladesh Mime Federation.
Tickets
F/T Ticket Center
Cast & Creative
| Adapted and Directed by | Zahid Repon |
|---|---|
| Written by | Badal Sircar |
| Cast: | Zahid Repon, Juana Sobnom, Fazle Rabbee Sukarnoo, Abdul Halim Shikder, Abdus Samad Bhuiyan, Mohammad Shakhawat Hossain, Mohammad Mehedi Hasan, Julekha Akter, Jebun Nesa, Alauddin Apu, Aninda Antorikkha, Nisharga Sobnom |
| Lighting Coordinator: | Fazle Rabbee Sukarnoo |
| Dressing Room Coordinator: | Sumaiya Akter |
| Production Coordinator: | Juana Sobnom |
| Tokyo Production | |
| Technical Manager: | Eiji Torakawa |
| Lighting Coordinator: | Naoki Kinoshita (Factor Co., Ltd.) |
| Sound Coordinator: | Akira Aikawa (Sound Weeds Inc.) |
| Surtitles: | Akihito Mizuno (Jimaku Makuuchi) |
| Surtitles Cueing: | Jewel Ahsan Qumrul |
| Technical Interpreter: | Mukul Mostafiz |
| Translator: | Yuka Okuda |
| Publicity Design: | Taichi Abe (Abe Taichi Design) |
| Photography: | Tsukasa Aoki |
| Video Documentation: | SAIKOUDO Co., Ltd. |
| Production Coordinators: | Wakana Arai, Yuko Takeda (Festival/Tokyo) |
| Planned and presented by | Festival/Tokyo |
| Co-organized by | the Japan Foundation Asia Center |
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| Supported by | the Embassy of Bangladesh, Tokyo |
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Access
Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre
- 1-8-1 Nishi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo
- 2 minutes’ walk from the West Exit of Ikebukuro Station on the JR and other lines. (Direct connection to the theatre from Exit 2b.)
Related Events
F/T Meets: Deciphering Bangladesh Talk Series
11/1 (Thu) 18:30: Kyoto Niwa (specialist in Bengali literature, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)
11/2 (Fri) 18:30: Zahid Repon (director, Swapnadal)
11/3 (Sat) 14:00: Rina Igarashi (curator, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum)
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Atelier East)
Tickets: ¥500 (priority to reservations)
Reservations
11/1 (Thu) 18:30: Kyoto Niwa (specialist in Bengali literature, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)
11/2 (Fri) 18:30: Zahid Repon (director, Swapnadal)
11/3 (Sat) 14:00: Rina Igarashi (curator, Fukuoka Asian Art Museum)
Venue: Tokyo Metropolitan Theatre (Atelier East)
Tickets: ¥500 (priority to reservations)
Reservations