Stories of seven courageous women recited at Habib University

Documentary play 'Seven' has been staged in more than 28 countries

KARACHI: The documentary play 'Seven' continued its tour in Pakistan Monday night as an ensemble reading of the play was staged at Habib University in Karachi.

Written by seven women playwrights, it has been performed across the world. The play focuses on how women cause change despite the challenges they face.

The seven women whose stories were performed included Mukhtar Mai, a Pakistan survivor of gang rape who now works for women's education, Farida Azizi from Afghanistan, Hafsat Abiola from Nigeria, who worked to improve relations between Chinese and African women, Inez McCormack from Northern Ireland, Marina Pisklakova-Parker from Russia, Annabella De Leon from Guatemala and Mu Sochua from Cambodia.

The script was written by seven women playwrights belonging to different countries. The writers individually interviewed and worked on the seven women's stories to write a dramatic monologue. They shared their scripts with each other and converted them into a single script for the play which was first performed in New York in 2008.



"This play has now been translated into more than 20 languages and is being performed world over," said Hina Idress, the spokesperson for the Swedish embassy which co-hosted the event in Karachi. She added that the play was being performed in various countries by inviting stakeholders and women, who had contributed to society, to read the seven characters.

The readings were performed by Sindh Commission on the Status of Women Chairperson Nuzhat Shirin, Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shazia Atta Marri, women rights activist Pushpa Kumari, television actress Sarwat Gilani, singer and actor Asim Azhar, musician and actress Natasha Humera Ejaz and lawyer and journalist Ayesha Tammy Haq. It was directed by Tulin Khalid Azim.

Pakistan Peoples Party MNA Shazia Atta Marri also participated in the play. PHOTO: EXPRESS

Along with the Swedish embassy, the European Union Delegation to Pakistan, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment, and Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy were the co-hosts of the event.

"The purpose of the event is to promote access to justice for female victims of violence by raising awareness about Pakistan's existing legal services and legal framework on violence against women," said Gilani. "[The women in the play] need to be set as an example for our youth," she added.

Earlier, the organisers said that Seven, which was in its 10th year, had been performed in more than 38 countries. Over 700 men and women, politicians, including a former president and members of the European parliament, football stars and others had performed the readings to lend their voice for marginalised women.