Six theatre performances -- Kania, Tunya, Srikrishna Kirtan, Hokkanir Dhonpana, Mangula and Raarang -- will be staged by Sadri Theatre, Har Gayen Dal, Manipuri Theatre, Joom Aesthetics Council, Palakar and Aranyak Natya Dal respectively in the festival.

Though Mangula and Raarang are performed by Bengali artistes of Dhaka, the plays feature the continuing oppression on ethnic minorities by the ruling Bengalis. The rest of the theatre performances will be staged by the ethnic minority groups.

Eminent theatre director-playwright and actor Mamunur Rashid directs three of the plays to be staged at the festival, of which Raarang is produced by his troupe Aranyak. Kania and Tunya, produced by Sadri Theatre and Har Gayen Dal respectively, are also directed by Mamun. He said, "To give an urban theatre orientation to their traditional performing art forms, I've worked with several groups in the Northern region of the country. Kania is a compilation of traditional performing art forms of 27 ethnic minority groups such as Onrao, Malo and Malpahari living in that region. The language of the production is Sadri, a common language used by these groups. Brindaban Das has written the script. Mannan Hira and Cornelius Hansda have jointly written Tunya, performed by the Santals."

On the reason behind staging these productions in Dhaka, Mamun said, "Urban people have scant knowledge of the performing art forms of these people. The festival is an opportunity to get acquainted with the multi-cultural heritage of Bangladesh."

Shubhashish Samir has adapted Srikrishna Kirtan from the hymns of legendary 15th century Bengali Vaishnavite poet Chandidas on the Radha-Krishna legend. Six Manipuri artistes from the eastern part of the country will stage the dance-drama. Hakkanir Dhonpana, a Joom Aesthetics Council production, will be staged by a group of Chakmas from the Southeast part of the country.

The festival will run at two theatre halls of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy-- National Theatre Stage and Experimental Theatre Stage.