LAHORE: Usman Zia, a parallel theatre artist and educationist, will soon launch a series of interactive theatre performances at different places in Lahore and other cities of Punjab under a very novel title, Fankar Baraye Farokht (Artistes for Sale).

“This project is aimed at not only the promotion and revival of street theatre but also empowerment of the artistes who, otherwise, are victims of commercialism and middlemen,” Mr Zia says while talking to Dawn.

He adds that in real life everybody does acting in different situations, proving that everybody is an artiste while the people in this region have always been good at expressing emotions.

“The artistes who have no platform to perform can perform from our platform, which is open to all,” Usman Zia says, adding that the basic idea of Fankar Baraye Farokht is that the artistes would perform on roads and in the bazaars and get financial reward from the audience at the end of the performance.

They would take their caps to the audience for whatever money an individual wanted to give to the performer from one rupee coin to any amount the members of the audience want to give.

“These interactive theatre performances will be a movement not only for the rights of artistes but also to revive their respect, for an artiste needs only three things: honour, payment for labour and opportunity.”

Mr Zia claims that the project would rule out the role of those who are controlling commercial theatre as well as the middlemen who exploit artistes. Youth will be the main component of this outdoor street theatre activity.

“We call it a movement through theatre to empower artistes and provide them with opportunities to perform to get free from shackles of sheer commercialism,” he asserts.

Usman Zia joined parallel theatre in 2005 and started working with Ajoka. He was sent to the famous National School of Drama (NSD) in India on scholarship by Ajoka. He did many courses from the NSD from 2007 to 2011 during his frequent visits. He performed in a number of plays at Amritsar with Indian Punjab’s leading theatre figure, Kewal Dahliwal, while renowned actor Naseeruddin Shah was among his teachers at the NSD.

Zia teaches theatre at different colleges and institutes, including the Kinnaird College and the Civil Services Academy. He has also performed in films such as Zinda Bhag, Maula Jutt and Bol. He was declared the best actor twice for private drama serial Jo Bichar Gaye.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2023