

On Going
65 Years of Alliance Française de Dhaka
Oct 04, 2024 – Oct 18, 2025

On Going
Invisible Stories - By Laurie Cannac
Oct 04, 2024 – Dec 31, 2025
L’Alliance s’engage dans la faisabilité de projet à long terme. À la fois en organisant des residences, mais aussi en trouvant des moyens financiers auprès de ses différents partenaires.
Alliance Française de Dhaka is dedicated to ensuring the viability of long-term projects through the organization of residencies and the acquisition of financial support from its diverse range of partners.

Invisible Stories - By Laurie Cannac
Invisible Stories
By Laurie Cannac and a team of Bangladeshi artists
Bangladesh, a country impacted by historical events like the partition of 1947 and the war of 1971, possesses a rich thousand-year-old history that explores the connection between humans and the mystical realm. This heritage is preserved through oral traditions which reflect the present world, historical disruptions, and the fragile unity of Bengali culture.
In her immersive experience in Bangladesh, including workshops, meetings, and the Faim de loup show, Laurie Cannac encountered Bangladeshi stories and artists, deeply moved by their resilient positivity. Inspired by this, she aims to showcase their vitality, humor, and adaptability in a unique production called Invisible Stories. Drawing from the diverse oral traditions that encompasses all religious communities, ghost stories, and other supernatural elements, Laurie has formed a team of three versatile actors-dancers-singers to create this multidisciplinary project.
Through a collection of traditional Bengali ghost stories, the artists will reimagine Dhaka, their city-megalopolis, by submerging it in a surreal and dreamlike world. This creative process aims to find explanations for the city’s challenges, such as its notorious traffic, by attributing them to the rural exodus of tree ghosts. The coexistence of the ancient and modern will be portrayed as walls supported by specialized ectoplasm.
Furthermore, the production will allude to historical ghosts, like ghost trains inspired by the tragic passengers of the 1947 convoys. Additionally, the exploration of personal ghosts, intertwined with Jung’s collective unconscious, will add depth to the relationships between the characters. The technical aspects of the production will emphasize the representation of the invisible through various means, including play, movement, objects, and body puppetry.
Please find the details of this project “Invisible Stories” / Projet artistique Histoires Invisibles:
Project “Invisible Stories” 🇬🇧 |
Projet artistique “Histoires Invisibles” 🇫🇷 |
Calendar of the production and activities 2024-2025:
1️⃣ In May 20 – August 20, Actors will rehearse for ‘Invisible Story’ from May 20 to the second week of August 2024 at Al-Alliance Française Gulshan and Dhanmondi center.
2️⃣ From Last week of August 2024, the technical show will take place at Studio Theatre Hall, Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy in the last week of August 2024. (Invited only)
3️⃣ From September 16 to September 26, the second rehearsal is scheduled for the final show.
4️⃣ In October 04 and 05, to celebrate the 65th Anniversary of Alliance Française de Dhaka, “Invisible Stories” will be staged on October 4th and 5th, 2024 at Alliance française de Dhaka.
Show Schedule
🎭 04 October 2024 at 7:00 pm; Venue: Alliance française de Dhaka; Open to all
🎭 05 October 2024 at 7:00 pm; Venue: Alliance française de Dhaka; Open to all
5️⃣ Tour of performance In October and November 2024, there will be a tour all over Bangladesh, mainly in Khulna and Satkhira, and different parts in Dhaka.
6️⃣ In April 2025, there will be a performance in Paris during Bangladeshi Art Week. (yet to be confirmed)
7️⃣ In September 2025, there will be participation in the International Puppet Festival in Charleville-Mézières, France.

Made in Puran Dhaka by Ramona and Gale
Artists Ramona and Gale traveled around Puran Dhaka and explores the lives around the river Buriganga to create video art which are integrated in their live performance.

Song of Whales

Kathputli
The captivating event titled “Kathputli — Dances and Puppets of Rajasthan” was a collaborative endeavor by Alliance Française de Dhaka and Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre, produced by Théâtre en Tête. It featured two compelling stories: one that depicted the vibrant culture, traditions, and the Jaipur Kite Festival of Rajasthan, and another that delved into historical interactions between the Mughal emperor Akbar and the kings of Rajasthan. The event was graced by distinguished guests, including the Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Pranay Kumar Verma, and the French Ambassador to Bangladesh, Marie Masdupuy, underscoring the international significance of this cultural showcase at the Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

Made in Bangladesh
