National Academy of Performing Arts (Napa) has finally announced its own festival, and the organisation committee looks more than excited to capitalise on its brigade of homegrown artists. Napa’s Young Director’s Festival is expected to be a burst of theatrical and artistic prowess and viewers have high expectations from the shows, since this is the first widely advertised creative fiesta hosted by Napa.
“The purpose of this festival is to give our graduates a platform to experiment and present their ideas on stage,” said the special projects manager at Napa, Zain Ahmed at a press conference organised to unveil the festival. “This festival also has four original plays, which will hopefully defy the preconceived notion that Napa always performs adaptations and translations,” he added.
The 10 day festival, which is said to kick-start on March 1, will go on till the March 11. The tickets cost Rs300, and in an effort to attract young audience, a 50 per cent discount has been allotted for students.
Directors on their ventures
Uzma Sabeen’s “Kafka”: “The festival has given us a lot of room to experiment. I have chosen to stage the life of German author Franz Kafka in a unique way. The play isn’t based on Kafka’s writings, but focuses on what he went through as a human being.”
Samina Nazeer’s “Art”: “The play is a situational comedy about three youngsters from three different residential localities namely Defence, North Nazimabad and Lalu Khet, who are shown discussing an interesting painting.”
Kulsoom Aftab’s “Koel”: “This is an adaptation of Dr Enver Sajjad’s play of the same name. I was fortunate enough to get some guidance from the writer himself and I hope I am able to live up to his expectations.”
Fawad Khan’s “Khawab Tha Shaid”: “I would not have written this play had it not been for this festival and if I tell you anything now then there is nothing to look forward to. I just hope the audience likes it.”
Sunil Shankar’s “Equus”: “This production originally written by Peter Shaffer is considered one of the most controversial plays of all time. It’s a bit hard to explain its genre but you can call it a psychological drama at its best.”
Schedule and synopsis
March 1
6:30 pm
“Hoon Muntazir Mein”
“Hoon Muntazir Mein” is a short story written and performed by students of the graduating batch and revolves around the issues faced by youngsters today.
March 2
“Art”
Written by Yasmin Raza and directed by Samina Nazir, “Art” is a comedy about the dynamics of friendship.
March 3
7:30 pm
“Art” (Repeat performance)
9:30 pm
A musical fusion performance by the music graduates of Napa
March 4
3 pm
A classical raag performance by the students of Napa
7:30 pm
“Kafka”
An Urdu play exploring the personal life of the German writer Franz Kafka will be an experimental performance, along with a multimedia visual presentation.
March 5
7:30 pm
“Kafka” (Repeat performance)
March 6 and 7
7:30 pm
“Koel”
“Koel” is a rendition of Dr Enver Sajjad’s play of the same name. The play, which explores the themes of love and ego in a relationship between a physicist and his love interest is directed by Kulsoom Aftab.
March 8 and 9
7:30 pm
“Khawab Tha Shaid”
An original play written and directed by Fawad Khan, that takes a different perspective on the love stories of 21st century.
March 10
7:30 pm
“Equus”
“Equus” is an Urdu translation of Peter Shaffer’s play of the same name. The play revolves around a boy who blinds six horses and ends up getting psychiatric help. The project is directed by Sunil Shankar and translated in Urdu by Shankar and Nazarul Hasan.
9:30 pm
Two concerts will showcase the talents of Napa alumni as they explore the boundaries of eastern and western music. The young musicians will incorporate old classics in their freestyle improvisational fusion performances.
March 11
3 pm
A classical raag performance by the students of Napa
7:30 pm
“Equus” (Repeat performance)
Published in The Express Tribune, February 29th, 2012.
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