Lyari stars shine bright during musical theatre

Around 32 students participate in performance at MAD School

KARACHI: Thirty-two students from Lyari stunned the audience with their powerful performance during a musical event at the MAD School on Saturday.

The group, known as Lyari Stars, performed on a 45-minute long Urdu musical theatre, 'Hai, Abba Jaan [Sigh, father]'.  The story revolved around two greedy sisters who are after the wealth of their father. One morning, they assume that their father had died, while he is alive. The confusion leads to a series of hilarious events.

More than 11 students from Lyari acted in the play, while around 21 students were involved in the performance including the dancing, singing and music. These students came from areas such as Moosa Lane, Kumbharwara and Mira Naka.



Promoting talent

Lyari Stars project was initiated two years ago with the aim of teaching acting, dance and music to the young people of the locality. The project targeted students between the age group of 13 years to 23 years.

In the first phase of the project, only 10 students were selected while the numbers increased in the second phase, informed the project director for Lyari stars, Nadeem Baloch. The first phase occurred from April 2014 to December 2014.

The second phase was initiated in October 2015. Students from different areas of Lyari were auditioned and then selected for the performance.

Students' experiences

Ayaz Ali, 23, spent five-hours daily to learn acting. He works in K-Electric but does not want to give up his passion for acting. "This place has taught me a lot, it would not be wrong if I say this place has polished me as an actor," he said.



Another actress, Ramsha Usman, who was working as a school teacher before being selected in the group said that if Lyari Stars was not there she would still be teaching. "I was fond of guitars but never played any before stepping in the team," said the only female guitarist of the group Mehak Ashfaq.

She said that she was rejected when she first gave auditions but then she was selected in the second phase. Ashfaq is completing her matriculation and takes guitar lessons only on Sundays.

"Teaching these students and interacting with them was quite impressive, as they are keen to learn and are quite hard working," said their music teacher and guitarist Amir Zaki.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2016.