Theatre arts: Dramafest opens at LUMS

20 teams from across Pakistan to participate in competition.

LAHORE:

As many as 18 teams from schools and colleges across the country are participating in the annual dramatics competition, Dramafest, which opened at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on Friday.

More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the festival over the weekend. It is being hosted by LUMS Dramaline, the university’s dramatics society.

Teams from Aitchison College, the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi, the National College of Arts (NCA), FAST, Indus Valley School of Arts and Architecture and Lahore Grammar School are among the participants.



On Friday, there were six performances, including two by Dramaline.

The performances started at around 7pm.

Talking to The Express Tribune, organising committee member and Marketing and Media head Ammar Suria said the festival aimed at offering young performers a platform.

He said five teams from the host university would also be performing.

Suria said 20 participants per team were participating in the festival which also features a competition.

He said each participant had paid Rs500 as entrance fee. He said according to the rules of the festival, every team would be allowed 25-30 minutes for its performance. He said the festival had attracted satire, mimes, humour and plays on social issues.

“We haven’t restricted teams on any theme,” Suria said. “Our aim was to provide a diverse palette to our audience.”

Event heads for Dramafest 2013, Rida Baqai and Maria Hashmi said the event was planned around a festive environment.

“Last year we had a turnout between 3,500 and 4,000,” Baqai said.

“This year, we are expecting at least the same, if not more.”

She said 35 educational institutions from across the city had been invited to attend the festival.

She said the ticket for the event would cost Rs200.

Suria said the festival had also invited actors Faisal Rehman, Salman Shahid and directors Bilal Lashari and Sarmad Khoosat.

The guests are expected to attend Saturday’s performances.

Suria said they would also deliver a talk.

He said the competition would be judged by theatre actor and co-founder of a theatre production company, Purple Patch, Mohsin Ejaz and Dramaline Society President Sana Warraich.

The competition will not include LUMS teams.

Awards will be given in 8 categories, including best actor (male), best actor (female), best director, best play, best script, best production, best supporting role (male and female).

The three-day festival ends on Sunday after announcement of the awards.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2013.