Govt reduces runtime of commercial plays in Lahore

Ninety minutes is all you have


ADNAN LODHI May 20, 2016

LAHORE: If the state of the many cinema houses in Lahore wasn’t dismal enough, one now has to focus on the city’s commercial theatres that have recently suffered a great deal due to newly implemented rules.

In the aftermath of the recent suicide blast at Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, the government has revised theatre show runtimes for security purposes. While the thought behind the move may have been noble, it has had a number of adverse effects that are gradually manifesting in many different forms today.

As part of new security measures, the government recently announced that the maximum time allotted to a stage drama will not exceed 90 minutes. The announcement took the theatre fraternity by storm after thespians and other professionals associated with stage weighed the cons of the decision. Dramas and performances that previously ran for at least three hours each have now been cut down to a little over an hour, with a mandatory 10 minute break and the inclusion of four songs/dance performances.



Since the implementation of the rule, theatres have seen a rapid decline in the number of families making their way in for some quality entertainment. “Based on the new schedules, commercial theatre groups are allowed four songs and a 10-minute break, leaving little time for the actual drama to take place,” lamented Qaiser Javaid, a senior theatre producer. He said that it was once a tradition to perform at least six to seven songs in a play but now, thanks to the new rules, there is hardly enough time to properly tell the story, which is why people have stopped working on the quality of scripts. “Stage is in control of mediocre artists promoting vulgarity through dialogues. This decision has decreased our viewership and discouraged families from attending plays. As a result, we are now facing financial issues,” he added.

Reducing viewership isn’t the only concern in the matter. The new regulations have also forced senior artists, producers, directors and writers to turn their backs on what was their only source of income. The new timeframe is now ideal for performers and actors solely interested in promoting vulgarity. “Families once boycotted cinemas due to vulgarity which led to the downfall of the local film industry. It seems that history is repeating itself once again, this time for commercial theatres,” explained Goshi Khan, a senior stage actor. “We have always focused on maintaining a clean environment by doing quality work. Theatre is a place where families come for relaxation and quality entertainment but when there will be no time and the scripts will be meaningless, a day will come when we will be forced to see empty halls.”

He added that the situation is giving a tough time to the thousands of families whose livelihoods are linked with the success of local theatre productions.

Selfless and genuinely concerned, senior thespians voiced their thoughts regarding theatre halls falling in the wrong hands. “No one is suffering more than those committed to theatre,” said stage actor and dancer Qismat Baig. “There is mediocrity dominating the stage with artists showing no concern for quality work. Producers are also not financing us adequately and this is the reason that senior artists are gradually disappearing from the forefront.”

It is pertinent to mention that the new rules have only been imposed on the plays staged by commercial theatres, while parallel theatre troupes such as the popular Ajoka will remain unfettered.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2016.

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