Culture And Memory

Art depicting life in Bengali Drama

Bangla Natok (Bengali Drama) is deeply ingrained in Bengali people's traditions and cultures. Various traditional theatrical forms, new developments during the British period, continuous synthesis and originality are adding new creativity and richness to Bengali Drama. Since the 1960s, Bengali immigrants in London have practiced Bangla Natok, which helped them keep their connections with 'back home'. Bangla theatre increased after the independence of Bangladesh, spurred by its role during the 1971 war in raising awareness and support for the independent struggle. In the 1980s/1990s, it witnessed more developments such as with drama festivals. In 2003, Tower Hamlets Council initiated the annual A Season of Bangla Drama. In 2023, its 20th anniversary was celebrated, showcasing more innovations. This project seeks to capture the rich evolutionary history of Bangla Natok in East London through oral history and research in the context of its long traditions in rural and urban spaces of Bengal.