What is No Time to Sleep?

Published October 7, 2018
Sarmad Khoosat as Prisoner Z
Sarmad Khoosat as Prisoner Z

Do you know the terrifying 24 hours a death row prisoner goes through before execution?

No Time to Sleep seeks to portray the same for audiences by charting the final days of Prisoner Z.

The role will be played by Sarmad Khoosat and the performance will go on without any breaks. It will be livestreamed right here on Dawn.com, starting midnight on Oct 10, the World Day Against the Death Penalty.

When the livestream begins, Prisoner Z will be sitting in his cell in solitary confinement, occasionally being silent, occasionally conversing with the guard who is watching him.

But mostly, he will wait.

No Time to Sleep is primarily about the tyranny of time that is both long and short – running slow and running out – while the ropes are tested.

The play is a project of Justice Project Pakistan, in collaboration with Olomopolo Media and Highlight Arts. The concept is by Ryan van Winkle. It will be directed by Kanwal Khoosat and has been produced by Iram Sana.

Prisoner Z's life is roughly based on Zulfiqar Ali Khan, who was JPP’s first client and spent 17 years on death row. In that time, his execution was scheduled and stayed more than 20 times.

Scroll down for more and stay tuned for regular updates as we build up to Oct 10.

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