Veteran actor Faruque Ahmed is set to make his debut as a theatre director with "Rangmahal", marking a new chapter in his more than four-decade-long association with Dhaka Theatre.

The inaugural show of "Rangmahal" will be staged tomorrow at 7pm at the Bangladesh Mahila Samity auditorium in the capital. The production is Dhaka Theatre's 54th theatrical venture.

Although Faruque Ahmed has been involved with Dhaka Theatre for over 40 years as an actor and has performed in numerous productions, this marks his first time directing a play for the troupe.

The play has been written by Rubaiyat Ahmed, a faculty member at Jahangirnagar University, while stage design has been led by actor and filmmaker Afzal Hossain. The cast includes Nasrin Nahar, Farzana Chumki, Aniket Islam, Towkir Alam, Ratan, Badal, among others.

Describing the play, Faruque Ahmed said, "The audience will witness a powerful story. In essence, 'Rangmahal' explores both the visible and invisible faces of society. I would describe it as a moral play—one rooted in ethical values. Whether it succeeds in that regard is for the audience to decide. I hope the combined effort of new and experienced artistes will make Rangmahal a significant production of our time."

Explaining why it took him so long to step into directing, Faruk Ahmed said he had prior experience during his university years. "While studying at Jahangirnagar University, I served as a hall drama secretary and directed several plays. However, this is my first time directing for Dhaka Theatre," he said.

He added that working alongside some of the country's most accomplished theatre directors over the years influenced his decision. "Legends like Bachchu Bhai, Jamil Bhai and Faridi Bhai have directed productions here, with outstanding actors bringing their works to life. Due to personal reasons, I was away from active theatre practice for a long time. Having crossed all those phases, directing a play now feels like a major achievement."