In order to say goodbye to the year 2011 on a high note in connection with the promotion of theatre drama in the country, the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) has scheduled ‘National Drama Festival-2011’ from December 12 to 29 at its auditorium.
The 18-day festival will comprise 22 stage plays from different art production houses from across the country. The event will kick off with ‘Aakhri Shikaar’ written by Ghulam Hassan Hasni and directed by Batin Farooqi for ‘Gilgit-Baltistan Art promoters’ (Islamabad) on December 12.
The other stage plays to be showcased include ‘Diwana Bakaar-e-Khwesh Hoshiyar’ written by Rafi Pir and directed by Malik Aslam from Azad Theatre Lahore on December 13, ‘Shadi ho to aisi’ written and directed by Syed Saleem Afandi of Stage Artistes Welfare Society Rawalpindi on December 14, ‘Jallad’ written and directed by William Pervez of Pattan Lok Natak Rawalpindi on December 15, ‘Wat Nakhray’ written and directed by Chaudhry Mehmood of Rohi Rung Welfare Society DG Khan on December 16, ‘Bandhan’ written by ZA Zulfi and directed by Tahir Siddiqui of Islamabad Art Promoters on December 17, ‘Raasta’ written by Pervaiz John and directed by Saeed Anwar from The Entertainers Rawalpindi on December 17 and ‘Dunia ki beti ranjeeda hay’ written and directed by Ishtiak Atish of Chanar Arts Council Muzaffarabad and ‘Sultan-e-Hind written and directed by Javed Bhatti of Aaina Theatre Islamabad on December 18.
Programme also include ‘Saanp’ written and directed by Javed Babar of JB Productions, Peshawar will be staged on December 19, ‘Teri jaan ki qasam’ written and directed by Asma Butt of Dolphin Communications Rawalpindi on December 20, ‘ChandBibi.com’ written by Ishaq Nazish and directed by Aslam Rana from Aslam Rana Productions Rawalpindi on December 21, ‘Shehr-e-Napursaan’ written and directed by AD Baloch of Sangat Theatre Quetta on December 22, ‘Insha Ka Intizar’ written and directed by Anwar Jaffri from Tehrik-e-Niswan Karachi on December 23, ‘Aisa kion hota hay’ written by M Sharif and directed by Razia Malik of Dream International Welfare Society Lahore on December 24 and ‘Ishq’ written by Muhammad Farhan Mughal and directed by Ziauddin Zia of Friends Productions, Islamabad on December 24.
Two stage plays titled ‘Pani Pani Ray’ and ‘Zameen Maa Hy’ from Art and Reality Productions Islamabad and Ali Kazim Golden Productions Skardu will be staged on December 25.
A stage play ‘Gathri’ written by Muhammad Aslam Mughal and directed by Afzaal Latifi of Evergreen Theatre Rawalpindi on December 26, ‘Hum Aik Hain’ written and directed by Riffat Ali Qaisar of Bhutto Shaheed Cultural Forum Rawalpindi on December 27 and ‘Amreeka Chalo’ written by Shahid Mehmood Nadeem and directed by Madiha Gohar of Ajoka Theatre Lahore will be staged on December 28 while the festival will conclude with drama ‘Khawab Biktay Nahi’ written by Farheen Chaudhry and directed by Sabir Khan from Super Vision Communication Rawalpindi on December 29.
PNCA Director General (DG) Tauqir Nasir told this scribe that the tradition of theatre went back to 8,000 years in the subcontinent and Indus Valley civilisation promoted the arts like drama, music and dance as a way of expressing emotions.
“It was an opportunity for the youth to explore the concepts and styles of traditional and contemporary stage artists while most of these dramas were relevant to the society in terms of entertainment, education and other factors,” the DG added.
