LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre will host a series of events, including a theater festival and a staged reading of a novel.

Shahid Nadeem, playwright and driving force behind Ajoka, told Dawn on Sunday that Ajoka, in collaboration with Safdar Mir English Literary Circle at Government College University and the International Center for Pakistani Writers in English at Kinnaird College, will present a staged reading of “Lawrence in Lahore: The Lost Years”. Readings would be done bt Fawzia Afzal Khan and Mr Nadeem. The readings will shed light on the lesser-known years of British intelligence officer TF Lawrence after World War 1. The readings will take place at Lawrence Hall, Quaid-i-Azam Library.

Ajoka will organise a four-day theatre festival at Alhamra from May 2 to May 5 in celebration of its 40th anniversary. The festival will showcase Ajoka’s inaugural play “Jaloos” or procession, first performed in 1984, along with “Teesri Dastak,” a play depicting the lives of residents in a dilapidated building.

Also, the group will stage “Dara”, an internationally acclaimed play portraying the power struggle between Shah Jahan’s sons Aurangzeb and Dara Shikoh. The play was adapted and produced by London’s National Theatre in 2015.

Ajoka’s 40th anniversary event is scheduled for May 25, where theatre personalities associated with Ajoka, including luminaries from India, will be in attendance.

Reflecting on Ajoka’s journey and mission, Mr Nadeem said that Ajoka Theatre, with its focus on producing socially relevant theatrical productions, was established in 1984 amidst the tensions of the state of emergency under General Ziaul Haq’s regime. Ajoka Theatre received the prestigious Prince Claus Award in 2006 and the International Theatre Pasta Award in 2007.

Since its inception, the group has staged numerous socially critical pieces in theaters, on the streets, in public spaces, as well as for television and video productions. Ajoka Theatre has not only performed in Pakistan but also across South Asia, as well as in Europe and the US.

The group’s inaugural theatrical performance was “Jaloos” (procession), written by veteran Indian playwright Badal Sarkar. The style of Ajoka’s performances is characterized by an elaboration on the oral tradition of Bhand and Nautanki.

Published in Dawn, April 15th, 2024