LAHORE: “3 Kahaniyan”, a set of three stories, will be staged at the Alhamra Art Centre from Nov 30 to Dec 3.

The Independent Theatre Pakistan, founded in 2012, will stage the performances - a set of three stories, divided into three acts and written by three playwrights.

The performances will later be staged in Islamabad, Karachi and Faisalabad the following year, followed by an international tour to Singapore and India.

At Alhamra, the group will be staging ‘Bu’, ‘Sammi Di Waar’, and ‘Badshahat ka Khatma’.

Act one story ‘Bu’ is directed and written by Ayesha Mohsin. She is a University of Regina, Canada, graduate in theatre and performance and has worked with the various international publication houses such as RIIS Media Project, Curtain Razors Theatre and CJTR-FM Radio in Canada. She has received two performance and research grants from Saskatchwan’s Arts Board and the Canadian government as an Independent writer and is a valued member at the Yale Repertory Theatre.

Act 2 story ‘Sammi Di Vaar’ is written by Najm Hosain Syed and directed by Mehreen Abid Mir. Mehreen has been involved with the performing arts and public speaking since 2010. She is a BA (Hons) in theatre from the University of Essex and is completing her MA in text and performance from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. Ms Mir has garnered backstage as well as performance experience. Working with the Paper Monkey Theatre, Act3 Theatrics and Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, she has played multiple roles on and off stage. She is the second Pakistani to have graduated from The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art after Zia Mohyeddin.

Act 3 story ‘Badshahat Ka Khatma’ is directed and adapted for stage by Azeem Hamid. The story is originally written by Saadat Hasan Manto.

Mr Hamid founded the Independent Theatre Pakistan and has successfully staged 13 productions under that banner. He is one the youngest Pakistani theatre directors to have directed commercial plays abroad, and has received numerous awards such as the Address of Honour and the Kabi Krittibas Ojha Smriti Smarak Award.

The theatre company not only provides a platform for theatrical arts, but also carries out an innovative, youth-centred theatrical programme and ingenious curriculum across the nation.

Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2015