COVID-19:More than 12,000 jobs at risk in Punjab's theatre industry

Over 75 productions in Punjab have been shutdown

LAHORE: Commercial theatre in Punjab has taken a major economic blow as a result of social restriction measures undertaken by authorities to curb the spread of coronavirus. Over 75 commercial theatres in Punjab, including 15 halls in Lahore, have been shut since March 15, as per figures provided by Punjab Information and Culture Department. Around 12,000 thousand families are said to have been affected by the closure.

According to producers, major theatres have faced a loss of around Rs110 million, while smaller ones lost around Rs6 million in the last 25 days. “Among the 75 theatres, almost 35 are those that were earning almost Rs7.5 million to Rs8 million for a 15-day spell. The big theatre groups earn an average income which is also Rs3.5 million to Rs4 million in other cities. Hundreds of people and their families are now suffering due to the coronavirus,” senior stage producer Qaiser Javed told The Express Tribune.

“It’s not only producers but artists and their families are also suffering due to the indefinite closure of theatre halls. I think this will lead to the government losing out on money as well since we contribute to taxes. With Ramazan just around the corner, there will be no shows for quite a while. We will be left hand to mouth.”



Producer Sabir Ali Gaga echoed his sentiments as he talked about the theatre community losing out on its bread and butter for a long period of time. “We have not seen this in our whole careers. At the moment, producers and artists are suffering equally. Theatre is all we know as far as our bread and butter is concerned. Keeping in mind the amount of money we have lost out on in the last month, I won’t be surprised if our poor artists resort to begging on the streets,” he said. “Most producers had already paid advance to book halls and venues. We don’t know how we will be able to cover our losses.” 

Meanwhile, chairman of Artist Equity Islamabad, Asma Butt, is of the opinion that the government should step in with a relief project aimed at theatre artists. “There are a thousand families that will die if the government does not offer a special package for commercial theatre artists,” she stated. “Me and some renowned local artists have personally witnessed the condition performers of small productions are currently in and don’t have words to explain their plight. However, I believe that there is only so much we can do and the government will eventually have to step in.



Certain stage performers are faced with a tough dilemma in these circumstances. According to a dancer who sought anonymity, applying for financial packages for them is not as simple as it sounds. “There are a large number of dancers who are supporting their families by performing in theatres. Now all of them are sitting at home and no one is considering our situations. We cannot apply for financial packages, nor can we beg on the streets as we are among the major names of the theatre community. All we can do is wait for theatres to open up once again.”

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