The theatre group was founded in 1980 by some enthusiastic students who later became prominent theatre personalities. Since then, the troupe has been arranging annual festivals on the campus.

Theatre personality Selim Al Deen inaugurated the eight-day long drama festival on March 23 at JU campus which wrapped up on March 31. The inauguration event was followed by a rally.

The convenor of the festival, popular actor Shahiduzzaman Selim said, "The JU campus is far from Dhaka, however, it has a rich cultural tradition. As the founder member of Jahangirnagar Theatre, I always try to help the students to undertake cultural activities here. I try my best to respond whenever they seek any help from me, by arranging workshops and directing plays. Other ex-students like myself help the current students."

Besides three productions of Jahangirnagar Theatre-- Achalayatan by Rabindranath Tagore, Shurango by Syed Waliullah and Mora by Shubhankar Chakrabarti-- Nagorik Natyangan Ensemble, Padatik Natya Sangsad, Theatre Art Unit and Department of Drama and Dramatics of JU are taking part in the festival. The other attraction of the festival is Shongpala, a decaying indigenous performing art form by Nripen's troupe from Tangail.

Thousands of residential students of JU do not have enough sources of entertainment. Whenever any cultural feast takes place on campus, they enthusiastically come and watch the events at the outdoor stage built in a Greek amphitheater pattern known as Muktamancha.

Though the rain interrupted the festival during the first two days, it later became the only means of recreation for the students. And the theatre troupes from Dhaka, which participated in the festival, attained some deep insights into staging plays amidst nature. Needless to say the audience enjoyed the event thoroughly.