Zahrsss: Innovations in improv theatre
The up-and-coming theatre troupe aims to reach out to Pakistan’s youth.
KARACHI:
Just before a major theatre production was about to start, a group of youngsters appeared in front of the curtain and performed a short skit that left the audience in fits of laughter.
This group of young actors spread around the stage, mimicking a cricket team on the field. The wicket-keeper dropped a catch following a no-ball and then the whole performance was repeated in slow motion. The bowler intentionally jumped over the crease, mimicking banned fast-bowler Mohammad Amir’s act of over-stepping and deliberately bowling a no-ball. That is when the audience registered the act and the laughter began.
This performance was an acted out by the Zahrsss, a theatre troupe from the Arts Council Theatre Academy (ACTA). The young team comprises of Zakiullah Khan, Aasiya Khan, Asif Shehzad, Arshad Malik, Abdullah Ali, Sarmad Khan, Humaira Shoaib, Sadia Taskeen, Tariq Raja, Kamal Hussain, Syed Maqsood, Younas Khan and Imran Ahmed.
“Although, we’re not the pioneers of improvisational theatre – that is already credited to Azfar Ali for his Aisa Kerogay Tau Kon Ayega and Lipton Light On Hai – we’re trying to add our own flavor as no one before has done a full-length 45-minute improvised performance,” Younus Khan, a representative of the troupe, told The Express Tribune.
The troupe, consisting of only fresh graduates, hopes to target the youth of Pakistan through their performances. In turn, the younger lot has appreciated Zahrsss’ rendition of improvisational theatre, also called I theatre.
“We believe in true entertainment for the youth of Pakistan, partly because we’re part of it as well. We have also been working with a number of youth platforms such as Young Leaders Conference (YLC), Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) and Pakistan Youth Congress (PYC), to name a few,” added Khan.
However, what really made this group famous amongst the theatre-going audience of Karachi was their performance of excerpts from their own improvised play Madia not Media.
“We did an improvised play called Justujo in which we added some comic punches and after that performance Karachi University’s Youth Media Forum asked us to create a play on the topic ‘Responsibilities of the media and the role of youth,’ said Khan.
As a result, Khan and his team created Madia not Media, a play which talks about exploitation by the media, government and every other pillar of the state, albeit with a comic undertone.
The performance was also appreciated and applauded by Faisal Ali Sabzwari, the former minister of Youth Affairs.
The troupe, which has acted out 43 performances in the past six months, has also done serious theatre plays by renowned playwrights. Most of their plays were performed at different universities.
“We generally start with a serious play – by a Pakistan playwright like Agha Hashar – and then switch to a lighter comical performance. The feedback we receive for our comedy performance is always better as students can connect to modern day issues in a better way as compared to Agha Hashar plays,” said Khan.
The troupe of emerging actors is now set for the sequel of Madia not Media, which is expected to be more theatrically interesting. The sequel is scheduled to be performed after Eid.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2011.
Just before a major theatre production was about to start, a group of youngsters appeared in front of the curtain and performed a short skit that left the audience in fits of laughter.
This group of young actors spread around the stage, mimicking a cricket team on the field. The wicket-keeper dropped a catch following a no-ball and then the whole performance was repeated in slow motion. The bowler intentionally jumped over the crease, mimicking banned fast-bowler Mohammad Amir’s act of over-stepping and deliberately bowling a no-ball. That is when the audience registered the act and the laughter began.
This performance was an acted out by the Zahrsss, a theatre troupe from the Arts Council Theatre Academy (ACTA). The young team comprises of Zakiullah Khan, Aasiya Khan, Asif Shehzad, Arshad Malik, Abdullah Ali, Sarmad Khan, Humaira Shoaib, Sadia Taskeen, Tariq Raja, Kamal Hussain, Syed Maqsood, Younas Khan and Imran Ahmed.
“Although, we’re not the pioneers of improvisational theatre – that is already credited to Azfar Ali for his Aisa Kerogay Tau Kon Ayega and Lipton Light On Hai – we’re trying to add our own flavor as no one before has done a full-length 45-minute improvised performance,” Younus Khan, a representative of the troupe, told The Express Tribune.
The troupe, consisting of only fresh graduates, hopes to target the youth of Pakistan through their performances. In turn, the younger lot has appreciated Zahrsss’ rendition of improvisational theatre, also called I theatre.
“We believe in true entertainment for the youth of Pakistan, partly because we’re part of it as well. We have also been working with a number of youth platforms such as Young Leaders Conference (YLC), Youth Parliament of Pakistan (YPP) and Pakistan Youth Congress (PYC), to name a few,” added Khan.
However, what really made this group famous amongst the theatre-going audience of Karachi was their performance of excerpts from their own improvised play Madia not Media.
“We did an improvised play called Justujo in which we added some comic punches and after that performance Karachi University’s Youth Media Forum asked us to create a play on the topic ‘Responsibilities of the media and the role of youth,’ said Khan.
As a result, Khan and his team created Madia not Media, a play which talks about exploitation by the media, government and every other pillar of the state, albeit with a comic undertone.
The performance was also appreciated and applauded by Faisal Ali Sabzwari, the former minister of Youth Affairs.
The troupe, which has acted out 43 performances in the past six months, has also done serious theatre plays by renowned playwrights. Most of their plays were performed at different universities.
“We generally start with a serious play – by a Pakistan playwright like Agha Hashar – and then switch to a lighter comical performance. The feedback we receive for our comedy performance is always better as students can connect to modern day issues in a better way as compared to Agha Hashar plays,” said Khan.
The troupe of emerging actors is now set for the sequel of Madia not Media, which is expected to be more theatrically interesting. The sequel is scheduled to be performed after Eid.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 16th, 2011.