Acting cannot be done by acting, only those who possess acting can act. Acting cannot be mastered simply by studying theatre—rather, actors keep acting alive through theatre studies. Theatre or dramaturgy is not just an academic subject; it is the lifeline of thousands of artists. While ordinary people often see no value in theatre or regard it as insignificant, for artists it is a source of excitement and passion. Because artists carry theatre within them—then they perform. They act out of love, not for the modern cinematic frame, but because they embrace theatre as if it were their own child. Unlike other academic disciplines where students can often succeed through rote memorization—like rats in a race— theatre is the exception. Theatre requires acting from the heart. It requires practice.
Most public universities in our country have theatre departments. Although the number of students is smaller compared to other departments, its importance is not diminished. For any national day or university event, most cultural responsibilities fall on the theatre department. Yet sadly, theatre remains the most neglected department in universities. The condition of theatre in our country is not just bad—it is extremely poor and distressing.
Today, many universities keep theatre departments only for the sake of formality. They cannot provide the necessary facilities or opportunities to students studying the subject.
Problems Faced by Theatre in Universities:
1.Undervalued Theater as an art: In a low-income country like Bangladesh where the rate of higher education is very low. In that country, a subject like theater is looked down upon. No one wants to accept that theater can be a subject of practice or study. They think that drama means acting and that there is no difficulty in acting, so there is no need to study it. But even to act, one has to know a lot, to memorize expressions, to practice, to know history, no one wants to accept this, and as a result, theater is left behind.
2. Lack of Qualified Teachers:
Most universities do not have enough teachers for theatre, nor do they have adequate space. Theatre cannot be practiced without proper training and rehearsal. Yet due to lack of teachers, rehearsal spaces, and various limitations, students are unable to practice, and the subject remains small. They are not given opportunities to accomplish anything significant. Session jams add to the problem.
3. Both the Artists and the audience are turning away from theater: In the current digital age, people watch various movies or pictures on their phones as an alternative to theater, so they no longer go to theaters. Now if the audience does not go to theaters, then who will the Shipli perform for? Whether you believe it or not, in Bangladesh, everyone earns money by doing something or the other while studying other subjects. Theater students also need this income. But at the end of the day, when they prepare a play with a lot of effort and see that the audience is very few in the seats, their morale is broken and there is no income. Maybe they have chosen theater out of their love, but love does not satisfy their stomachs, at the end of the day they also need a small portion of income, but without getting that, they also gradually turn away from theater.
4. Negative Social Perception:
Many people in Bangladesh view theatre and media as the same thing. Since they confuse the two, they assume theatre shares the negative aspects associated with media. As a result, many families do not allow their children to study theatre. People look at theatre with a prejudiced eye, which weakens the field even more.
For the above reasons, theater is lagging behind in our country. However, theater is still taught in various universities abroad in a very grand manner. Theater students in various universities abroad have the opportunity to practice theater, as well as the opportunity to work in various productions, so they do not have to face any crisis like in our country.
Theater is not just a medium of entertainment but it is a carrier of rural culture, language and history. Theater directly highlights various inconsistencies and inequalities in society. Through stage plays, stories of people of different religions, cultures and classes emerge. As a result, it increases empathy, tolerance and respect for others among the audience. Programs like ‘Mukhosh Natak’, ‘Gana Natak’, ‘Palagan’ of theater maintain our cultural roots. And can a nation survive without roots? Theater not only maintains roots but also teaches people to think and ask questions. Through theater, students acquire skills like: speaking expression, self-confidence, leadership, teamwork and creativity. Which is useful for any purpose. Therefore, instead of looking at theater with neglect, the government and we should focus on how to further improve it.
