KARACHI: A play staged by the Italian group Balkan Theatre titled Burrnesha and music from the Mehran region were the highlights of the World Culture Festival on Wednesday evening.

Let’s focus on the play first. In Albanian culture, a burrnesha is a woman who assumes the legal role of a man after becoming a celibate. It’s an old tradition that in a way touches upon the issue of how to counter the challenges posed by a patriarchal system. Obviously, such a step taken by a female comes at a price.

The drama directed by Valbona Xibri has the central character a woman played by Maryna. Things become difficult for her as her father dies. She is left along with her mother. In a small north Albanian town, it is not easy for women to live alone. The choice that she has for marriage also doesn’t suit her. So she decides to lead life like a man. However, it doesn’t prove that simple.

The project is essentially a one-person play with, in the middle of the story, aided by visuals that run on the screen placed at the back of the stage. The videos show some men that live in that remote area of the country, also indicating the daily goings-on of the main character’s life after assuming the role of a man.

The point that the drama tries to drive home is that it is difficult to get out of the clutches of patriarchy.

Mehran Night enthrals music lovers

In the meantime, the activity of mural-making on the walls of the council is going on with aesthetic grace at the council. One of the artists, who is involved in the effort, is Ethiopia’s Kaleab Alemayehu.

Talking to Dawn about his artwork, he said, “I have fallen in love with Karachi. I love the people. I love the view of the cityscape from the place where I’m staying. So I’m trying to paint Karachi with a tribute to the Arts Council. I have used acrylics to express myself through the mural.”

Earlier, the festival’s Wednesday events kicked off with a children’s play Madoom directed by Afreen Seher and Vijdan Shah.

In the evening, a series of Pakistani films, Karmash, Talish, Dariya Ke Iss Paar and Indus Echoes were screened.

A concert, Mehran Night, was also held on Wednesday and it was eagerly awaited by music lovers. The artists who were on the programme list to sing included the likes of Mai Dhai, Rajab Faqir, Wahab Bugti and Mazhar Hussain.

Published in Dawn, November 12th, 2026