A comedy play titled “Songs of Hawkers” was staged at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Thursday, offering a humorous yet insightful portrayal of street hawkers’ lives.

Organised by Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD), the play will be reprised at the same venue at 3:30 pm on Friday.

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Directed by French theatre artist Zazie Hayoun, 'Songs of Hawkers' blends elements of dance, music, puppetry, acrobatics, and clowning to depict the vibrant, chaotic world of Bangladeshi hawkers. The play incorporates the French theatrical technique of Grand Guignol, a 19th-century form known for its dramatic storytelling.

Throughout her international career, Hayoun has focused on capturing the essence of everyday life, transforming seemingly insignificant details into compelling narratives. In this production, she presents three interwoven stories – The Secret, The Thief Rewarded, and The Competition – highlighting the struggles, humour, and resilience of street vendors.

The cast includes Imam Hossain, M S Rana, P K Fazal, and Suraiya T Mou, with a creative team led by Hayoun as writer and director. Prajna T Rubayyat and Farjana Akter served as assistants, while music was led by Rahul Ananda; tune and composition of the song ‘Dog Eat Dog World' were done by Gopi Debnath, and choreography contributions came from Farhad A Shamim.

With a duration of one hour, Songs of Hawkers pays tribute to the hawkers who add rhythm and poetry to urban life through their relentless chants and daily hustle.

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The play, performed primarily in Bangla with some English dialogue, offers free entry upon confirmation via communication@afdhaka.org. It will continue at the same place and time on Friday.