'Awami Theatre Festival 2026' continues to draw enthusiastic fans

On the tenth day of the ongoing Awami Theatre Festival 2026 at the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi, the stage play "Be Positive" was presented at Auditorium II, receiving an enthusiastic response from the audience. The play was written and directed by senior actor Nazar Hussain, while the cast included Shanzay, Billu Zareef, Honey Khan, Kamal Idrees, and Nasira Noor, who entertained the audience with their powerful and engaging performances. "Be Positive" revolves around a story set in a closed street, where various characters portray the sweet and bitter realities of society.

The play highlights social attitudes, human psychology, and everyday life issues in a light-hearted yet meaningful manner. A large number of theatre enthusiasts were present in the hall to watch the performance. It is noteworthy that the Awami Theatre Festival, which began on January 22, will continue until February 15 at AC Auditorium II, where the general public can attend the performances free of cost.

Sindh's Minister for Culture and Tourism, Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah, had attended the opening ceremony as chief guest, alongside Arts Council President Mohammad Ahmed Shah, Chairman of the Drama Committee Shehzad Raza Naqvi, Secretary Ejaz Farooqi, and other members of the arts community.

The festival is featuring 29 productions staged daily at 8pm at Arts Council Auditorium II, with additional shows on Saturdays and Sundays. The festival will continue until February 15, concluding before Ramadan, and entry to all performances is free.

All senior directors are taking part in the festival. Senior artist, director and classical dancer Sheema Kermani is also doing a play.

Around 30 plays are being staged in Urdu and other regional languages.

The council has a rich history of such events. Artists who worked on its premises such as Moin Akhtar, Umar Sharif, Sikandar Sanam and Liaquat Soldier, who are no longer in this world, became popular.

The Vice-President of the Council, Munawwar Saeed, gave a piece of advice to the artists who will be seen in action at the event. He said they should be honest with the characters that they're asked to play.

He said that, although most of the plays are in Urdu, there are dramas in Punjabi, Sindhi, Seraiki and Balochi languages. "For the last 18 years, we have been telling our theatre friends that we would give you financial support and make sets for you but to make the play a worthy quality piece depends on the director. "In the beginning there were issues. This is the Arts Council. Here you are allowed to have creative liberty, but coming up with vulgar stuff in the name of creative ability is not acceptable", he said.

The festival had kicked off with 'Seedhi Jalebi' directed by Shakil Shah and will end with 'Mujh Mein Tu Mojud' presented by Tehrik-i-Niswan.

The festival involves between 400 and 500 people, including actors, directors, writers, set designers and technical staff. The festival's free-entry policy ensures that theatre is accessible to all, noting that nearly 90 per cent of Arts Council programmes are offered without tickets.

Over the course of the festival, productions by a mix of established and emerging directors and writers will be staged, reflecting the diversity of Pakistan's contemporary theatre scene. Scheduled productions include Mirza Ghalib in Karachi, Hota Hai Shab-o-Roz Tamasha Mere Aage, Bohat Ho Gayi Begum, Yeh Kaisa Daur Hai?, Rab Diyan Rehmatan (Punjabi), Panjo Thino Karo (Memon), Pardes (Seraiki), Kandana Biaay (Balochi), Dil Ji Duniya (Sindhi) and Mujh Mein Tu Maujood, among others.