LAHORE: Ajoka is presenting a bilingual new play, “Lawrence in Lahore”, at the Ali Institute Auditorium on Ferozepur Road on Feb 17-18.

It is based on the little-known exploits of the legendary British spy, T. E. Lawrence, known as Lawrence of Arabia, who helped dismantle the Ottoman Empire, paving the way for the Western control over the region and lasting instability in the Middle East.

The play is based on new information about the espionage assignments and romantic encounters of Lawrence in Lahore and the region.

The play directed and written by eminent playwright Shahid Nadeem, in collaboration with US-based scholar Prof Fawzia Afzal Khan, highlights the role of Lawrence and Western powers

in destabilising the Middle East, Afghanistan, India and Kashmir.

Dramatic readings of the play have been presented in US, UAE and in the Lawrence Hall at Lawrence Gardens (now known as Bagh-i-Jinnah) to great acclaim.

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2025