‘Government rules apply’: The show that isn’t allowed to go on

Directors blame PNCA for decline of theatre, making things difficult.

ISLAMABAD:

Not too long ago, musicals and larger-than-life sets were a norm in the city, where a team of energetic theatre directors and actors would come up with a new play practically every month. But that is all in the past now.

Just when a theatre culture was gaining popularity in the capital city, why did it hit a low? Directors who talked to The Express Tribune pointed fingers at the Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA).

“I came to Islamabad after two years for Pawnay 14 August, and [after this experience] I am never working with the PNCA again,” said the visibly upset director, Dawar Mehmood.

“I moved to Karachi a few years ago for a more conducive environment, thanks to the Karachi Arts Council, and because of bad experiences with the PNCA.”

“The auditorium was built to promote the performing arts and to provide entertainment to the public,” said Javeed Saeedi. “Yet we are the last on the priority list.” Dawar and Saeedi belong to Islamabad and staged their directorial debuts in the capital.

“My technical rehearsals were cancelled last minute, even though I had paid a sizable advance, just because the US embassy wanted to hold a function,” said Saeedi. After staging Cinderjutt last year, Saeedi, too, vowed never to work with PNCA again. “There is a reason Dawar, Osama Qazi and Shah Sharabeel don’t do plays in Islamabad.”

“PNCA charges an exorbitant Rs50,000 per day, in which we have to daily provide 35 free tickets,” said Dawar. “Our tickets are sold in black by the PNCA staff, which leads to overcrowding. We are charged Rs50,000 for three hours of technical rehearsal. Ask any theatre expert and he’ll tell you a full day is required,” he added.

“Literally, the first day of our play was the technical rehearsal. Instead of encouraging us, they try to make things as difficult as possible” stated Dawar. He claimed to have spent countless hours outside PNCA Director General Tauqir Nasir’s office sending in requests for a meeting which were declined. “This play was a huge success, yet when we requested for an extension, we were shown the door,” he added.

If charging a lump sum wasn’t enough the irate directors inform that the PNCA charges Rs10,000 an hour for the generator in case of a blackout. “In a city where there is no theatre culture, we end up with expensive tickets to pay our bills,” said Saeedi. “If things don’t go their way, they’ll cut off electricity during the play. Can you imagine the embarrassment and the loss of reputation?” he questioned. Both directors agree that the only auditorium custom-built for plays is misused for diplomatic and ministerial functions.

“It is in our contractual agreement to cancel shows at any given time,” said PNCA Director Hasan Abbasi. “We do our best to promote theatre and we have an annual drama festival for promoting theatre groups. As a government facility we have to abide by certain rules,” he added.

Abbasi alleged that the last show of Pawnay 14 August caused a lot of embarrassment as the information minister was refused admission because of overbooking. “Kaira was invited by the PNCA and they are the ones responsible for overbooking,” Dawar shot back.

In the clash between PNCA and theatre directors, it is the people who have been deprived of entertainment. One can only hope the city witnesses more of the larger-than-life musicals that were once a regular feature of city life.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 3^rd, 2012.