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Christina Nygren: Promoting Swedish-Bangladeshi theatre

Kavita Charanji
Christina Nygren, Associate Professor in the Department of Theatre Studies, Stockholm University, is no stranger to Bangladesh. A familiar face in the Dhaka theatre circuit, she was here once again in her capacity as a project manager with the Swedish Centre of International Theatre (ITI). The project, will run for three years and promote theatre activities among children and youth in South Asia. It is funded by the Swedish International Development Corporation Agency (Sida).
"The aim is to develop children's creativity by giving them their due as an audience. We seek to generate awareness of children's rights, gender equality, right to education and other social issues," says Christina. And the objective is not just didactic. "Along with education, the objective of the project is to entertain," she adds.
How does this philosophy translate into action? For one, the project seeks to build a bridge between theatre groups in Sweden and Bangladesh, at present cooperating with the Khulnabased Rupantar and Liaquat Ali Lucky's Rakhal and People's Little
Theatre. In March, Rupantar went to Sweden to stage performances. Further, around three weeks ago, a Swedish group called Slava came to Khulna to conduct a seven-day workshop. This was to culminate in a joint theatrical production called SongofMan.
Explaining the reasoning behind the partnership, a brochure on the workshop says, "We are relentlessly working to resurrect and rediscover the folk art forms from the roots to rescue them from erosion and oblivion
and to use them for community development. So we want to popularise forms like Potgan, Austok, Kirton endjatra.’
In February 2005, another Swedish group, Tittut, is to come to Dhaka for a workshop with schools. "The workshop will serve as a platform toteachnewth eatri -cal techniques to the Swedish and Bangladeshi groups," said Christina.
What makes the project even more interesting, is that Rupantar has extended its reach to include rural areas in Sundarbans and the area in Khulna district.
Christina firmly believes that the common person has close links with theatre. She said that the audience in rural areas has a mix of "devotion and emotion" for drama. As she asserted, she has many times seen audiences of 7,000-8,000 people waitingfor her an hour or two before a play. "In which country would this happen?" she questions.
Simultaneously with her other projects, Christina is set to publish a book on the performing arts of West Bengal and Bangladesh next year. Given her dedication to theatre, her latest work' should be worth a read.