In terms of numbers of participating troupes, the biggest theatre festival will begin tomorrow at the Shawkat Osman Auditorium, Central Public Library. People’s Theatre Association (PTA) has organised a fortnightlong theatre festival in which 125 children's theatre troupes from different corners of the country as well as from India are participating.

At a press conferepce held at the Dhaka Reporters Unify oh June 4, the organisers informed that Adviser to the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Rasheda K. Chowdhury' is expected to inaugurate die festival.

The title of the festival is '9th National And 1st International Children And Youth Theatre Festival'. Organisers expect as many as 5000 children and youths to attend

the festival.

Besides staging theatre performances, children will perform dance, circus, mime and other art forms at the festival. Moreover, there will be workshops for children and young theatre activists at the seminar room, Central Public Library.

Convenor of the festival, Liaquat Ali Lucky, who is also the general secretary of PTA, claimed that this year's arrangement is more diversified and bigger than previous ones. He said, "It's the biggest theatre fesuvaTm the world in terms of number of participants. As far I know, 90 troupes participated at a theatre festival in Denmark earlier."

"Besides Bengali children, child actors from ethnic minority groups in Bangladesh will participate at the festival. Moreover, one troupe each from Agartala, Kolkata and Delhi, India will stage plays at

the festival," he said.

To encourage the child actors, talented artistes will be awarded. "Evaluating yearlong activities of the child actors working in 160 member troupes of PTA, potential artistes will receive Manchokuri, Manchomukul and Manchoshena Awards," Lucky said.

Moreover, best playwright, best director, organiser, best group and Lifetime Achievement Award for children's theatre will be awarded at the festival.

Speaking on participation of the children and youths, Lucky informed, "We have extended our theatre programme amongst the college students. Moreover, a few-ethnic minority groups have also become members. They will also participate in the festival."

PTA has organised the festival in association with Swedish SI DA. Swedish ITI, Art Venture and ActionAid.