Theatre festival puts gender issues on stage

Arts Council and Tehreek-e-Niswan bring talent from slums to limelight

KARACHI:

The Arts Council of Pakistan (ACP) Karachi and Tehreek-e-Niswan Nida-e-Aman jointly organised the Community Theater Festival based on the outstanding performances of students from backward areas of Karachi at Arts Council Auditorium II. Students from Saeedabad, Maripur, Gulzar Hijri, Pehlwan Goth, Shereen Jinnah Colony, and Ibrahim Haideri are participating.

Expressing his views on the occasion, Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmad Shah said that "Sheema Kirmani and her team deserve congratulations on the successful organisation of this great theater festival."

Paying tribute to the long and arduous struggle of Sheema Kirmani and all the women empowerment activists he said, "It has been at least 35 years since they started the struggle and invested all their lives, yet this fight continues to grow despite daunting challenges." Regarding the adversaries to women empowerment and voices against gender-based violence he said, "we are very few, and the enemies of peace, love, light, civilization, culture, and this city are very powerful."

He said that despite the odds they will continue to spread the message of peace and progress without relying on cannons and swords. Engaging the young minds through the power of stage can change their thought process, the ACP president said. "Yes, this city has been ruined by design, now the ownership of this city will have to be taken by the citizens of this city and Insha'Allah the hope is that everyone will take it towards betterment," Shah said.

The students are presenting the plays that they have written, learned, and directed made by themselves. Different groups of students performed plays reflecting various social issues which were highly appreciated by the audience. In the end, the audience enjoyed Sheema Kirmani's tremendous performance.