There is a particular irony in watching Syed Jamil Ahmed return to the stage after more than four decades as an actor. One of Bangladesh’s most influential theatre directors, who has spent much of his career shaping actors from the other side of the performance, is suddenly subject to the same conditions he has long asked performers to navigate.

Staged from July 23 to 25 at the Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium of Bangladesh Mohila Samity, "Golmatha Ar Chokhamatha" felt particularly relevant to Bangladesh's present political moment.

The acclaimed thespian will portray a judge in the play, directed by his former student Mohsina Akter and translated into Bangla by Anirudha Anu from German playwright Bertolt Brecht's original work.