LAHORE: The Ajoka Theatre will celebrate ‘75 Years of Cultural Resilience’ at the Alhamra Arts Center on the Mall on Aug 12.

Eminent artists will read papers and perform at the event to mark the 75th anniversary milestone.

Ajoka will celebrate the works and struggles of artists and cultural activists against dictatorships, extremism and censorship.

A galaxy of people including Prof Nazish Ataullah, progressive singer Taimur Rehman, dance maestro and social activist Sheema Kermani, Prof Asghar Nadeem Syed, Dr Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Samosa Media producer Anwar Akhtar and playwright/director Shahid Nadeem will read papers highlighting the stories of Pakistan, struggle, oppression, and survival. A documentary paying tribute to the heroes of cultural resistance will also be screened.

The artists and writers will also reflect on the rise of extremism and challenges of peace building in the region. The event will include a dramatic reading of Shahid Nadeem’s “River of Sorrow” and conclude with poetry readings by eminent poets, dance performance by Sheema Kermani and music by Lal Band.

The event will be organised in collaboration with the Lahore Arts Council, the Punjab Council of the Arts and Samosa Media UK.

The Ajoka Theater was founded in 1984 by Madeeha Gauhar and Shahid Nadeem. It has become one of Pakistan’s most important cultural institutions, a depository of the culture, literature, folk tales, heritage and history of the lands, peoples and cultures that make up Pakistan.

Ajoka’s repertoire includes Mughal history plays such as Dara, Bulleh Shah, the popular Punjabi Sufi poet, and the lives and landscape changed by Partition in “Border Border” and “The Blind Old woman’s Dream” as well as bold satires such as “Burqavaganza” and “Amrika Chalo”.

Anwar Akhtar was born and grew up in Manchester, UK and is founder and director of thesamosa.co.uk -- UK arts and journalism charity that works to embed diversity in the arts and humanities curriculum in schools, colleges and universities, and produces media that explores cultural and social issues.

He was the production consultant on the play “Dara,” working with Ajoka Theatre Pakistan and National Theatre UK.

Published in Dawn, August 3rd, 2022