KARACHI: Theatre groups from India, the UK, Germany and the US will perform alongside Pakistani theatre groups at the international theatre festival beginning here on March 11, announced artistic director of the National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) Zain Ahmed on Friday.

This will be the fourth annual theatre festival organised by Napa.

Speaking at a press conference, Mr Ahmed said 11 plays would be put up within the span of 20 days.

Apart from theatre companies belonging to the four countries, Pakistani theatre groups such as Ajoka, Azad and Tehreek-i-Niswan would be seen exhibiting their talent at the event that would continue till March 31.

He especially touched upon the arrival of Indian film-maker and producer Mahesh Bhatt to be part of the production team of the play Daddy (a stage-adaptation of Bhatt’s 1989 film) which would be the last presentation of the festival.

German director Brigrl Gjoka’s collaboration with Napa students in a dance piece called Among Fog was also something to look forward to, he said.

Joint ventures

Mr Ahmed said this year the academy had focused on collaborations, one of which was between the students of Napa and National School of Drama, Delhi. Then a group from Rajasthan would present an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

The director said Pakistani theatre troupe Ajoka would be there with their plays Dara and Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh. For children, this time round Aladin would be staged on Sundays at 12pm.

He added the ticket prices for the event had been cut down from Rs800 to Rs400 to attract more theatre-goers into the Napa arena.

Earlier, Napa Programmes Director Arshad Mehmood appreciated the role of sponsors in arranging the festival. He said it was the fourth edition of the event and second involving international theatre players.

Rumana Hussain of the I Am Karachi initiative talked about her interview with Zia Mohyeddin that she did for Dawn in 2004 in which the eminent artist had suggested that Karachi was the right place for culture and art-related activities. She urged everybody to join hands in promoting cultural events, since those who inflicted terror on society were together but those who were for peace and tranquility didn’t speak with one voice.

Published in Dawn March 7th, 2015

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