Dr. Sydur Rahman Lipon is a distinguished academic, researcher, and theatre director from Bangladesh. He serves as Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Theatre at Tagore University of Creative Arts in Dhaka. He is an Adjunct Faculty member in the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at the University of Dhaka and frequently serves as an external examiner for drama, theatre, and performance at various universities. In his academic career, Sydur earned a PhD and an MPhil from Dhaka University, as well as an MA in Theatre with distinction from the Department of Theatre and Performance Studies at Dhaka University. His academic research focuses on examining the performance methodologies, techniques, tools, and structures that underlie ethnological ritual events among the Marma, Manipuri, and Garo inhabitants, as well as studying narratology and the traditional process of acting inherited in folk theatrical performances within agrarian Bengali communities. Dr. Lipon, with a renowned career spanning over 25 years, is acclaimed for his expertise in living heritage, community-based interactive and applied performance, and contemporary urbanized theatre.

His research extends beyond academia and involves him in a variety of creative works and projects. His expertise and experience in empirical studies of intangible cultural practices, performance, and knowledge have enabled him to engage in various roles, including consultancy, research, documentation, presentations, facilitation, participation, authoring books, and performing with different cultural groups, institutions, and organizations at both national and international levels. It comprises UNESCO Dhaka, UNESCO ICM, ICHCAP Korea, UNESCO CRIHAP, Tencent, CRI China, the Czechoslovak Oriental Institute (Czech Republic), Von Krahl Theatre (Estonia), Galiaskar Kamal Tatar Academic Theatre (Kazan, Russia), NSD, ICCR India, the British Council, Bangladesh Institute of Theatre Arts (BITA), IOM, and many more. He has made significant contributions to a range of projects, including conferences, seminars, workshops, acting, presenting, directing, cultural heritage damage assessment, research, and consultancy.

Dr. Lipon is a published author with books and articles featured in peer-reviewed journals and magazines, both nationally and internationally. His work encompasses seminal projects on intangible cultural heritage, South Asian narratology, traditional acting methods and presentation styles, hereditary systems in dance, transformation techniques, process, and the performance codifications in traditional games and the games connected to martial arts; traditional yoga and meditation for actors’ training and preparation; the history and evolution of folk theatre of Bangladesh; and some other topics. These publications have made significant contributions to the study of culture, performance, and identity in Bangladesh.

As a theatre director, Dr. Lipon has staged a wide variety of productions, ranging from folk ballads and narrative spectacles to reimagined classics such as the oral folktale Bhelua Shundary, the Indian mythological tale The Exile of Sita, Tagore’s drama Arupratan, George Orwell’s Animal Farm, and Sawkat Otman’s Laughter of Slaves. He is renowned for his significant contributions in adapting and assimilating traditional performance knowledge, techniques, and practices with contemporary theatre methods, emphasizing cultural progress, preservation, and identity.

Dr. Sydur Rahman Lipon’s research interests are deeply rooted in traditional, indigenous, ethnic, and anthropological studies, particularly in exploring the socio-cultural significance of fostering contemporary cultural communities. His scholarly study not only explores the communal identities but also critically investigates the methodological frameworks for psycho-physical training and means within performance studies.