LAHORE: The 13th three-day Interactive Theatre Festival organised by the Interactive Resource Center concluded at the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Sunday.

The audience comprised people of all age groups and belonging to all walks of life who attended the theatre activity at the HRCP. The outer façade of the building was imparting a dainty look on a pleasant evening.

There was a huge representation of the minorities who enjoyed interaction with theatre teams performing on the stage.

The Interactive Resource Center (IRC) works to educate the marginalised sections of society in Pakistan about their basic human rights. Formed in 2000, it began as an initiative to explore new avenues for community mobilisation and dialogue.

The theatre dilated upon sensitive but commonly experienced issues of society. It was aimed to create awareness among people about the rights of the minorities, domestic violence and sexual harassment.

The HRCP auditorium remained jam-packed. Unlike other such events, the audience had an edge in this particular performance because they time and again were invited by the director of the play, Muhammad Waseem, to come up with their solutions to and opinions on different social issues being highlighted through the performances.

People seemed happy with this kind of direct interaction. The plays, which were staged during the three-day festival, were also suggestive of their basic themes when it came to their titles. The inaugural play was ‘Intolerance in Our Society’. The play dealt with the insightful theme of a lack of tolerance in society. It showed how a fight over a petty issue among school students led to a major clash between their adult family members.

The other play was based on a topic which perhaps needed deeper and focused capacity building of society -- ‘Early Childhood Marriage’. The play was based on the concept of early childhood marriage and its impact on society. It was also reflective of attitudes being adopted by many families in the country as far as gender discrimination is concerned.

‘Baandar Killa’ recognised the struggles of those women who put their lives at stake and stand for women equality.

‘Minority Rights’ was perhaps the most sensitive issue the IRC raised since the play addressed the issue of equal opportunities and citizenship. A thought-provoking aspect of the play was the segment that dealt with those school students who belonged to the minorities and the treatment they met usually.

‘Domestic Violence and Sexual Harassment’ as the title of the play suggests that itself was another crucial issue the theater raised through a performance. The script focused on issues such as drug addiction, domestic violence and sexual harassment in a male-dominated society.

Published in Dawn, November 24th, 2014