Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma

University Teacher, Theatre Actress, Director, Designer and Dancer

Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma is widely known in the field of education and performing arts.

Kazi Tamanna Haque Sigma was appointed as a Lecturer in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, Dhaka University in 2012. She obtained BA and MA degree with 1st class and 1st position from the Department of Theatre and Music. Her researched works have been published in various research journals of Bangladesh such as Half-yearly Bangla Patrika of Shilpakala Academy, Sahitya Patrika and Dhaka University Patrika. She participated in international theatre festivals, international dance festivals, seminars, workshops in China, Korea and at different states of India. She participated in a field based Theatre for Development workshop at Thakurgaon, organized by Dhaka University and development organisation RDRS.

She teaches the theoretical and practical courses on Indigenous theatre of Bangladesh, Indian Classical Drama, Aharyabhinaya, Speech, Costume Design, Music, Dance, and also acted as a director in the production of Indigenous Theatre and Classical Drama. Apart from teaching at Dhaka University, she conducted various theatre workshops organized by various national and important theatre groups. Such as Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Open Space Theatre, Theatre School, and Barisal Shabdabali etc. Besides, she has also worked for a long time as a dance teacher at Bulbul Academy of Fine Arts (BAFA), an important performing arts institution in Bangladesh.

She won the National Children Award Gold Medal in the dance category for four consecutive years of in 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. She also won a gold medal in dance category at the National Education Week in 1994 and a bronze medal in 1995 from the Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina for her success in participating in the 'Notun Kuri'. She won the first place in dance, music and acting at Dhaka University Literature and Culture Week in 2007 and became the champion of Begum Rokeya Hall.

She danced at the famous Nandikar Theatre Festivalof India in 2003. In 2010, she has been praised in national and international arena by acting in the play Behular Bhasan, directed by Syed Jamil Ahmed, at the South Asian Feminist Theatre Festival. She also participated in the Bharat Rang Mahotsav organized by the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi in 2011, the ‘APB Theatre Festival’ organized by the National School of Drama (NSD) in Delhi in 2016, and the 8th Theatre Olympics in Delhi and Patna in 2018. Besides, her directed and designed theatre productions have been staged in theatre festivals in various states and cities of India including Kolkata, Assam, Tripura and Patna.

In addition to teaching, she also regularly participates in stage plays and professional dance performances. The notable plays she acted in are: Birangana Kabya, Kalchautisha, Behular Bhasan (as Behula and Narrator), End Game, Madhyam Bayog, Mricchkatik, Nichutlar Manush, Seagull, Raktakarbi (as Nandini), Kabi, The Room, Kamalaranir Sagar Dighi, Sitar Banabas, Jatrapala Shajahan, A Night at an Inn and Sanjhbelar Bilap etc. At present, her acted play (Anton Chekhov's masterpiece) Seagull is work on progress.

She directed two wonderful plays; Campaka Nagarēra Upakathā and Nīlakṣāra Char yēthā Maiṣā Rishir Rūpakathā. She has earned well reputation for her specialized skills in music, costume and makeup. She designed music and costumes of the plays; Birangana Kabya, Panjore Chandraban, Sanjhbelar Bilap, Bohni Bisarjan Bo-Dwip, Prakriti Chitra O Amaler Charalnama, Bhelua, Nishiman Bisarjan, Kamalaranir Sagar Dighi and Mahua. She designed the costumes only in the plays; Death of a Salesman, Bishwarjon, Oporera, Kalchautisha, The Weavers, Seagull, The Room, Kabi, Raktakarabi, Three Sisters, The Lower Depths, The Birthday Party, Kalmrigaya, Panjore Chandraban, Sanjhbelar Bilap, Kamalaranir Sagar Dighi Nishiman Bisarjan.

This talented ambidextrous artist- teaches, performs, directs and plans for academic activities as well as acts, dances and presents in government Television (BTV) as an enlisted artist and private television media.

With her unwavering devotion to education and arts, she has been playing a consistent role in the performing arts and theatre of Bangladesh.