LAHORE: The oldest theatre of the city, Open Air Theater in the Lawrence Gardens, is being renovated and upgraded at a fast pace to give it a new lease of life with more powerhouse performances and promotion of art and culture.

The historical theatre will be renovated at an estimated cost of Rs391.8m. Built in 1940 at a hillock in the then Lawrence Gardens, the theatre had its first cosmetic renovation in 1982 when the main staircase for the visitors was added to its structure. This time the open air theatre is being renovated with modern equipment and as per requirements of the modern building structure.

The theatre was designed on the Greek classical theatre pattern it has been a centre of cultural activities since its inception.

With the efforts of GD (Guru Dutt) Sondhi, the then principal of Government College, Lahore, the theatre was constructed to stage plays and hold other cultural activities. It has been a nursery of performing and visual artistes, including Sultan Rahi, Qavi Khan, Sadequain, Irfan Khoosat, Sohail Ahmed and a number of others.

The officials concerned said the renovated Open Air Theatre would have facilities of reception, recording room, music room, studios, toilets and lift for the disabled, patients and old citizens. The ground floor will have a multi-purpose room, green room, lobby, gazebos and seating area for visitors.

The first floor will have directors’ rooms, office rooms, electricity room, multi-purpose room and toilets. The second floor would have a store /workshop, make-up rooms, green room, stage room, toilets, open restaurant and kitchen.

Punjab Council of the Arts (PCA) Executive Director Dr Syed Bilal Haider told Dawn that while renovating the Open Air theatre as per requirements of modern times, its historical and special premises would be maintained in every way.

He added that the open air theatre would attract the public and tourists like other historical buildings of Lahore and a wall of fame would also be decorated to pay tribute to the legendary artistes who had performed in it in the past.

Mr Haider added that the Open Air Theatre was handed over to Punjab Council of the Arts in 1975, acknowledging its mandate for the preservation of culture and promotion of art in Punjab.

Published in Dawn, April 8th, 2024