LAHORE, April 15: Artistes from eight countries will present their interpretation of the plays of Henrik John Ibsen at a theatre festival, starting here from April 19.

Two plays would be staged daily at Alhamra, The Mall, during the ‘Ibsen in South Asia Festival’, Usman Peerzada of the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop said at a news conference here on Saturday.

The Royal Norwegian Embassy has collaborated with the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop for the multi-lingual festival, featuring artistes from China, Iran, Syria, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius and Pakistan.

The Chinese, Arabic, English, Bengali, Hindi, Tamil and Urdu versions of the famous plays of Ibsen, including Doll’s House, Wild Duck, Ghosts, Resurrection, The Pillars of Society and Hedda Gabler would be staged during the nine-day theatre gala.

“The characters created by Ibsen over 120 years ago even have relevance to the present day South Asia. The year 2006 marks the 100 years of Ibsen, an influential Norwegian playwright who is largely responsible for the rise of modern drama and is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare,” said Mr Peerzada.

Scholars, critics, actors and directors from the participating countries would read papers on the life, works and influence of Ibsen on South East Asia during a one-day conference during the festival which will conclude on April 27.

The entry to the festival would be through free passes which would be available from Alhamra, he said.