ISLAMABAD: Pakistan National Council of the Arts on Saturday hosted a theatre play that confronted the pervasive exploitation which surrounded societies and questioned the cultural acceptance of misogyny.

The drama Article 25 was produced by 23 Point 5, a production house which had been involved in many theatre performances over the years, including Saazish 1951.

It was presented by Askolay, a communication agency engaged in the business of marketing, with its head office in Faisalabad. Directed by Najamul Hassan, the producers said theatre had always been a passion that burnt within, as evidenced by their past involvement in various theatre productions.

The producers, through the play, argued that in Pakistan, women were plagued by systemic violence that manifested on individual, social and cultural levels.

They argued that though it may reveal itself in the physical realm at times, it was a constant and pervasive presence in the economic, political and social spheres.

The Global Gender Gap Report 2021, ranked Pakistan 153rd out of 156 countries, a testament to the magnitude of this injustice.

The organisers also argued that the first step towards the resolution of a problem was an appreciation thereof.

Theatre was the mirror to gaze upon oneself, maintained the producers of the theatre, adding that, “great theatre was a call to arms, challenging perceptions and inviting to dream of a world.

“We implore you, dear audience, to partake in this journey with us and may you be entertained and enlightened. We extend our deepest gratitude to the people for their unwavering support and appreciation,” said the writer of the drama, Mohammad Hassan Miraj.

The two-day stage drama will also be presented on Sunday.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2023