ISLAMABAD: In the third performance of the week-long Youth Drama Festival, Preston University Theatre Group presented an abstract play ‘Dyota’ at the Pakistan National Council of Arts auditorium on Wednesday.

After two days of comedy performances, the serious 60-minute play forced the audience to think about the message behind the symbolism. Some young audience members found the play too symbolic for their taste.

The play was based on an original script by Preston University student William Pervez. According to him, the play highlights how individuals interpret situations and circumstances to suit their own vested interests and control the people around them.

“We see it in our society today, where interpreters of religion have formed a monopoly and gained importance and high status. True religious traditions have been pushed to the background,” he said.

The play opens to a scene in which a leader of a tribe which lives in a forest has created a false God to force his people to submit to his authority. Because his people believe his rule is divinely ordained, they do not question him.

This is symbolic of how many individuals in society create false Gods and exploit the masses through them. This way everyone tries to make his or her own god to achieve their own aims.

The set was simple, depicting a jungle. The background music did not add much to the performance and many dialogues were not understood by the audience members.

Some actors had never been on stage before, such as Business student Usama Abubakar who played the role of a robber. “I am happy with my performance. I was nervous in the beginning but felt comfortable as the performance progressed,” he said.

Another actor Muzamil Shahid, who played the role of a hero, said he has acted before. “The script is not a problem. It is the improvisation which is a little difficult. The play has some dialogues which required actors to improvise a little,” he said.

On Thursday students from Quaid-e-Azam University will be present ‘Meri Kahani’ at the PNCA auditorium at 7pm.

Published in Dawn March 5th , 2015

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