LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre presented its celebrated play ‘Marya Hoya Kutta’ at the Fight Inequality Festival held at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) Auditorium in Lahore, where it received an overwhelming response from the audience.

The performance stood out as one of the festival’s major attractions, using satire and powerful storytelling to expose the realities of inequality, social exclusion, and the misuse of power.

The production was presented by the Ajoka Institute, with the cast comprising students of its art of acting course. It marked the students’ first-ever public stage performance. The play was introduced by Nirvaan, who highlighted the significance of the occasion and congratulated the students on making their stage debut.

In addition to ‘Marya Hoya Kutta’, the students also performed selected extracts from Ajoka’s acclaimed production ‘Dara’, showcasing the skills they acquired during the course.

The cast included Amir Iqbal, Ali Shahzad, Arrahmanul Husnain, Chaudhry Muhammad, Fakharun Nisa, Hamza Waheed, Jamil Ahmed, M Fawad Tanveer, Maryam Shehbaz, Sheroo, Rimsha Nadeem, Salman Hameed and Waleed Malik.

The audience, comprising artists, academics, trade unionists, farmers’ leaders, students, and civil society representatives, applauded the play’s enduring relevance and its message of collective responsibility in addressing social injustice.

Speaking on the occasion, Ajoka Executive Director Shahid Nadeem said, “Marya Hoya Kutta is one of Ajoka’s evergreen plays. I wrote it during my university days, yet its central theme remains as relevant today as it was then. The problems it highlights still exist in our society. The play reminds us that meaningful change cannot come solely from governments or outside assistance; society itself must recognise its responsibilities and become part of the solution.”

The performances were followed by a certificate distribution ceremony for the students who successfully completed the art of acting course at Ajoka Institute. Certificates were presented by Farooq Tariq, Dr Khalid Javed Jan, and Baba Najmi, who appreciated the students’ dedication to theatre and congratulated them on successfully completing the course.

The performance was one of the highlights of the Fight Inequality Festival which brought together artists, academics, trade unionists, farmers’ leaders, students, and civil society activists to advocate for a people-centred economic system.

The festival also featured panel discussions on economic justice, debt, taxation, workers’ rights, public services, and sustainable agriculture, along with poetry recitals by Dr Khalid Javed Jan, Baba Najmi, and Irfan Comrade, reflecting the struggles and aspirations of ordinary people.

The festival concluded with a renewed commitment by participating organisations, artists, and activists to strengthen collaboration among social movements and continue working toward a more just, inclusive, and people-centred society.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2026