Theatre troupe Natydhara is set to present its new production The Last Girl of Hell, moving beyond conventional theatrical conventions through the aesthetics and experimental language of living theatre.
The play will have its premiere on Friday, 28 August, at 7pm at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
Following the principles of living theatre, the production seeks to reduce the traditional distance between the audience and the stage, making the theatrical experience more direct and immersive.
Physical movement, symbolic performance, light and shadow, sound and atmosphere have been incorporated as key elements of the production.
At the centre of the play is Nadia Murad, a young woman from Iraq’s Yazidi community who was captured and subjected to abuse by extremist militants.
She later escaped, sought refuge in Europe and became an outspoken advocate for human rights.
In recognition of her courage and efforts, Murad was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2018.
However, The Last Girl of Hell goes beyond Murad’s personal story.
The production explores contemporary crises including war, state power, fundamentalism, global politics, economic interests, attacks on ethnic identity and humanitarian disasters.
According to Natydhara, Murad’s life is not presented simply as a personal biography but as a reflection of a particular time and history.
The production also aims to make audiences active participants in the theatrical experience rather than passive spectators.
Instead of simply following a narrative, viewers will be confronted with questions emerging from the events on stage.
The play concludes with five central questions: Is Nadia the last girl of the world’s visible and invisible hells? Is the ongoing war the world’s final war? Is the hell created by fundamentalism the world’s last hell? Is Nadia the last girl of the world’s final hell? And are war children deliberately created?
Written by Anisur Rahman, the play has been directed by Ashish Khandaker.
The cast includes Md Kamal Hossain, Fahmida Rahman Trisha, Riyad Mahmud, Hafsa Akter, Md Abdul Aziz, Md Rafiqul Islam, Rahim Parvez, Al Hasibur Rahman, Jahangir Sikder, Imtiaz Ahmed Dulu and Hafsa Mahmud Riddhi.
Ashish Khandaker is also responsible for the music and costume design. Riyad Mahmud serves as associate director, while Palash Sen Henry has designed the stage and lighting.
BDjobs.com and Simon Culinary Institute have supported the production.
With its experimental approach and living theatre aesthetics, The Last Girl of Hell is expected to offer a distinctive experience in contemporary Bangladeshi theatre.
The production will begin its theatrical journey with its opening show on 28 August.
