The Little Art (TLA) has been exploring various art forms for creating a culture of learning, development and social values amongst children and youth in Pakistan for eight years.

The organization believes that the theatre, among all art forms, is the most direct human form of expression which impacts greatly not only individuals but the communities as well.

After years of working with students and teachers on the importance of drama and performance in education, the TLA has for the first time produced a theatre play specially written and performed for the children. The newly-established theatre programme Tamasha-Theatre for young audience presented a 45-minute play “Gogi and Jugnu Ka Tamasha”, which was a story about a 10-year-old girl who is a bored child and encounters a mysterious friend with whom she goes on a journey of imagination.

The performance was held recently at the Ali Auditorium hall which remained full with audience on all days as curious children watched the colourful performance along with their parents. Nearly 1,500 people attended the show in three days. The production was approached with contemporary techniques of video projections and movements along with a theme around the experience of cinema.

The idea behind the play was to change the culture where the adults can perform both for adults and the children as well. Two adults, Uzma Ali as Gogi and Umair Mushtaq as Jugnu, performed the roles of 10-year-old children.

The play was conceptualized by Shoaib Iqbal, founder of The Little Art. It was based on his childhood experience of visiting a cinema for the first time. The play was written by Imran Mushter Nafees and Hashim Nasir.

There was an overwhelming and interactive response from the children who continued shrieking with laughter during the performance. They were awed by video projections that looked like something out of a fantasy.

Aspecial screening of the English version of Ajoka Theatre’s internationally acclaimed play “Dara” was held at the Lahore University of Management Sciences on Sept 30.

The film was a recording of Dara’s adaptation by the prestigious National Theatre of the UK.

The screening was followed by a conversation with Dara’s writer and director Shahid Nadeem and Ajoka theatre’s artistic director Madiha Gohar, production consultant to Ajoka and National Theatre Anwar Akhtar and Dr Taimur Rahman of LUMS and the famous “Laal” band. The event was attended by students, academics and other guests.

Shahid Nadeem spoke about his work as a writer of socially meaningful plays for over 30 years and the historical and thematic significance of “Dara”, which highlighted a conflict between Prince Dara Shikoh and Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

He said the Ajoka was encouraged and inspired by the critical and popular acclaim the play received in Britain.

Anwar Akhtar of the UK-based “Samosa” media project talked about his role in introducing Ajoka’s work to the National Theatre and making the play accessible to both the mainstream British audience and the Asian and Muslim communities.

Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Dr Taimur Rehman praised Ajoka Theatre’s contribution to socially meaningful and artistically high quality theatre in Pakistan.

“Dara’s” success at the National Theatre was a big breakthrough for Ajoka and Pakistani theatre as it presented a progressive face of the Pakistani culture for the Western audience, he said.

Ajoka also paid tribute to the great freedom fighter, Bhagat Singh, on the occasion of his 109th birthday.

The play, written by Shahid Nadeem and directed by Madiha Gohar, was staged at the Alhamra Arts Council. “Mera Rang De Basanti Chola” is based on the last days of Bhagat Singh in the Lahore Central Jail where he was hanged on March 23, 1931, after a sham trial by the British rulers. The play revealed links with the past and the future.

Nirvaan Nadeem played excellently the role of Bhagat Singh while Talha Akhtar and Shehzad Sadiq as fellow freedom-fighters, Rajguru and Sukhdev. Also noteworthy was the performance by Sohail Tariq as Bhoga, the sweeper.

The impact of the play was further heightened by powerful songs written during the freedom struggle which included “ghori” written by Lahore’s tonga driver Tair Lahori.

Published in Dawn October 2nd, 2016