In celebration of the 102nd birth anniversary of legendary French mime artist Marcel Marceau and World Mime Day 2025, Swapnadal's highly acclaimed mime production of "Macbeth" will be staged for a special performance this Saturday (March 22) at 7:30pm at Shilpakala Academy's Experimental Theatre.

Directed by Zahid Repon and adapted from William Shakespeare's original play by Juyena Shabnam, this mime version of "Macbeth" merges the timeless narrative with the Bengali tradition of mime. Celebrated for its innovative approach, the production presents "Macbeth" as a full-length mime drama—a pioneering concept in Shakespearean adaptations. While Shakespeare's works have been widely adapted for stage, film, and television, this rendition breaks new ground as the first to reimagine "Macbeth" as a complete mime production.

At its core, "Macbeth" is a tragic tale of unchecked ambition, lust for power, and betrayal. It follows the story of a courageous general, Macbeth, whose relentless ambition drives him to murder King Duncan, seizing the throne for himself. His ascent to power, marred by successive acts of violence, eventually leads to his own tragic downfall. The production showcases this spiral of destruction, using only gestures and body language to convey the deep psychological and moral struggles of the characters—allowing audiences to experience Shakespeare's work in a fresh and visually striking way.

The cast of "Macbeth" features Juyena, Hasan, Sumaiya, Nishok, Shishir, Shyamal, Jebu, Sonali, Anindya, Orko, Nishorgo, Shafik, Jawad, and Ali, among others. Each performer brings a unique depth to the characters, proving that mime is capable of capturing the emotional weight and complexity of Shakespeare's writing without the need for dialogue.

The stage and lighting design of the project is overseen by Fazle Rabbi Sukorn, enhancing the haunting, ethereal atmosphere. The choreography, led by Hasanuzzaman, and the costume and prop design, collaboratively executed by Juyena Shabnam, Hasanuzzaman, and Sumaiya Shishir, merge the historical with the symbolic, creating a visually compelling narrative.

The music and sound design, by Shakhawat Shyamal and Mizaul Islam Khan, are overseen by Shakhawat Shyamal, who also serves as the production manager, ensuring that every element of the performance runs smoothly. This performance marks the 16th staging of "Macbeth" by Swapnadal.

Honouring Marcel Marceau

This special performance comes at a meaningful time, as it honours both the legacy of "Macbeth" and that of the renowned mime artist Marcel Marceau. Born on March 22, 1923, in Strasbourg, France, Marceau revolutionised modern mime, becoming a global icon of the art form. His work transcended language barriers, speaking directly to the human condition through silence and movement. After he died in 2007, his birthday was officially designated as "World Mime Day" to honour his contributions to the world of performing arts.