Natyadhara to stage play on Nadia Murad’s survival

The prominent theatre troupe Natyadhara is set to premiere its latest production, Dojokher Shesh Meyeti (The Last Girl of Hell), following the Eid holidays. Directed by the acclaimed Ashish Khandaker and written by Anisur Rahman, the play recently completed its technical staging at the Experimental Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The narrative is inspired by the harrowing life of Nadia Murad, the Yazidi woman who survived ISIS captivity to become a 2018 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. However, the production transcends mere biography, interrogating the brutal mechanics of global politics, war, and capitalism. Director Khandaker describes the work as a "form of minimisation," employing a stripped-back aesthetic where actors portray multiple roles to evoke a sense of universal suffering.

Playwright Anisur Rahman, whose works have been staged across Europe and Asia, thanked the troupe for their bold vision. With costumes and music by Khandaker and set design by Palash Sen Henry, the play promises to leave audiences questioning whether the world will ever truly escape the "hell" of conflict.