KARACHI: The Arts Council of Pakistan will organise this year’s Awami Theatre Festival from Nov 8 to Nov 24.

Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, Arts Council president Ahmed Shah said he had brought with him the history of Pakistani theatre (he was referring to writer Anwar Maqsood and actor Munawwar Saeed who were sitting next to him).

“Anwar Maqsood has seen all the plays from the time when they were staged at Adamjee Theatre. He was taught by Khwaja Moinuddin,” he said.

Mr Shah said that the Awami Theatre Festival is part of the council’s tradition. It will begin on Nov 8 and although its closing date thus far is Nov 24, it is extendable. “We have around two dozen plays.”

Speaking on the occasion, Anwar Maqsood said the recently held World Culture Festival by the council will be remembered for as long as Pakistan exists. “Forty-four countries took part in it. I thought that those who are related to the realm of theatre should have seen the plays presented by Belgian and Palestinian groups during the World Culture Festival. It would have opened their minds about the possibilities in theatre.”

The writer said he in the past had seen a lot of plays (which are now deemed part of the awami theatre).

“There’s a certain kind of people who like these dramas. They don’t care if the biggest actors in the world appear in them, all they want is their kind of plays. [To theatre persons present at the presser] You have developed a certain position in people’s hearts and you are so popular among your own audiences. What I want to emphasise here is that you have been working for such a long time, kindly pay attention to scripts. The same lines, the same policeman jokes, the same double-meaning phrase for girls, don’t do that. Change that. People like you. You will achieve more than before,” he said.

Munawwar Saeed first spoke about the TV play Mirza and Sons that he acted in. It was written by Anwar Maqsood. Then he shed light on the importance of theatre.

He added it’s the best place for a performing artist to learn.

Published in Dawn, November 6th, 2024