‘Game of death’: Student group protests through street theatre

Student theatre group puts on short play about Raymond Davis case in a novel protest against US presence in Pakistan.

LAHORE: A student theatre group put on a short play called ‘Maut ka khel’ (Game of death) about the Raymond Davis case in a novel protest against the American presence in Pakistan.

The play was staged on the street at Jain Mandir Chowk on Lytton Road, which the organisers erroneously claimed was the site at which a bystander was allegedly run over and killed by a US consulate car.

Muhammad Anas, spokesman for the Goonj theatre group, said the objective of the performance was to raise awareness about the increasing American involvement in Pakistan and to expressed solidarity with the families of the men allegedly killed by Davis and the US consulate car.

“We want to show that Raymond Davis is not an isolated case.

Punishing him will not end the problem as he is only the tip of the iceberg.

We should end American intervention in our country,” he said.

Anas added that a street theatre performance was less inconvenient for the general public than a demonstration. “It’s important to explore new ways of conveying messages to the public,” he said.

The audience was generally appreciative of the student performers’ efforts and their message.

Sajid Akhtar said the students were taking an important step towards revolution. He said that the play had provided a new perspective on the issue. He said that it was better to protest in this way than to block the roads.

Muhammad Islam said that the students had shown that Pakistani youths have the potential to change the country for the better. “Their message really came across. It was hard to understand at first but as the drama progressed the message unfolded.”

Published in The Express Tribune, February 22^nd, 2011.