Bhubaneswar, June 11: The fourth edition of Ekaa, a theatre festival of solo performances at Bhanja Kala Mandap that began with a powerful act by Abanti Chakraborty in Lady Macbeth, concluded today.

Adapted from Shakespeare's popular play Macbeth, the play portrays the will and ambition of Lady Macbeth.

Altogether six plays were staged in the three-day festival organised by Bhubaneswar-based Mirror Theatre group.

"The primary goal behind the play was to explore the dark side of the character and her hunger for power," said the actress. She is the artistic director for Aarshi, a Kolkata-based theatre group.

"One thing that runs in the mind during a solo show is the fact that the entire attention of the audience is on you and there is no second chance. So, one has to be extremely careful not to end up exaggerating or underrating expressions," said the theatre artiste who has been awarded with the Ustad Bismilla Khan Yuva Puraskar for Direction from Central Sangeet Natak Akademi.

In another development, the first Asim Basu Samman was conferred on veteran theatre director Gananath Jena. He also presented a solo play Bedanara Byacheda in the evening.

"Theatre is one of the most powerful media of communication. There is no such pleasure such as performing live as it provides better connect with the audience," said Jena.