Napa reprises a Greek tragedy in Urdu
Napa is set to open its last year’s production Oedipus Rex to the public for the first time.
KARACHI:
After staging four plays in 2010, Napa (National Academy of Performing Arts) is all set to make a new year comeback with Oedipus Rex. Produced by Napa’s third-year students, the Urdu translation of the famous Greek tragedy by Sophocles will be staged at the Arts Council till January 9. Though the play was performed last year, it was not open to the public before.
Translated by Ahmed Aqeel Ruby and produced under the supervision of the Chairman of Napa, Zia Mohyeddin, Oedipus Rex holds immense importance in the history of drama. Being performed in 429 BC for the first time, Oedipus Rex became the basis of Sigmund Freud’s theory of the Oedipus Complex, making the play relevant even today.
“The play revolves around the themes of fate and freewill and how man is a puppet of his destiny, no matter what he does, he has to reach his fate. This is such a universal theme that it is relevant to the masses even today,” Akbar Islam, the administrator of NRT (Napa Repertory Theatre Company) and cast member of Oedipus Rex told The Express Tribune.
He further added that Napa has never done a Greek tragedy for public before. He said that watching such a drama is a totally different experience and performing it is even more challenging.
“As the audience enters the hall, the curtain is opened, they enter old Greece previously known as Athens. That’s just the beginning, what will be more entertaining to watch is the characters wearing masks throughout the performance, as all the Greek plays were performed with masks on thereby following tradition,” said Islam.
A lot of expectations are attached to the play’s translated script, as the writer dedicated it to Zia Mohyeddin who chose it for the production right away. Ruby’s translation didn’t change the Greek style of storytelling and the choice of vocabulary was very appropriate.
“Oedipus is quite different as compared to the other plays of its time which get monotonous and slow as they progress.
In the case of Oedipus ,it takes a lot of dramatic turns very quickly and every turn leads the viewer into another direction hence giving it a very fast paced filmy treatment , which never lets the audience yawn. We have tried our best to do justice to it,” said Islam.
The set of the play has been designed by Anjum Ayaz, senior faculty member of Napa. The cast includes Adan Jaffer as Oedipus, Akbar Islam as Creon, Islam Khashkheli as Theseus, Hammad Sartaj as the Priest, Ali Kazmi as the messenger and the supporting characters are played by other Napa students.
This time, the show is open for all with no tickets as Napa officials want more and more people to come and enjoy the play. “We believe there is still much left to do in theatre and we want the youth to come and watch this play hence there are no tickets,” Islam added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2011.
After staging four plays in 2010, Napa (National Academy of Performing Arts) is all set to make a new year comeback with Oedipus Rex. Produced by Napa’s third-year students, the Urdu translation of the famous Greek tragedy by Sophocles will be staged at the Arts Council till January 9. Though the play was performed last year, it was not open to the public before.
Translated by Ahmed Aqeel Ruby and produced under the supervision of the Chairman of Napa, Zia Mohyeddin, Oedipus Rex holds immense importance in the history of drama. Being performed in 429 BC for the first time, Oedipus Rex became the basis of Sigmund Freud’s theory of the Oedipus Complex, making the play relevant even today.
“The play revolves around the themes of fate and freewill and how man is a puppet of his destiny, no matter what he does, he has to reach his fate. This is such a universal theme that it is relevant to the masses even today,” Akbar Islam, the administrator of NRT (Napa Repertory Theatre Company) and cast member of Oedipus Rex told The Express Tribune.
He further added that Napa has never done a Greek tragedy for public before. He said that watching such a drama is a totally different experience and performing it is even more challenging.
“As the audience enters the hall, the curtain is opened, they enter old Greece previously known as Athens. That’s just the beginning, what will be more entertaining to watch is the characters wearing masks throughout the performance, as all the Greek plays were performed with masks on thereby following tradition,” said Islam.
A lot of expectations are attached to the play’s translated script, as the writer dedicated it to Zia Mohyeddin who chose it for the production right away. Ruby’s translation didn’t change the Greek style of storytelling and the choice of vocabulary was very appropriate.
“Oedipus is quite different as compared to the other plays of its time which get monotonous and slow as they progress.
In the case of Oedipus ,it takes a lot of dramatic turns very quickly and every turn leads the viewer into another direction hence giving it a very fast paced filmy treatment , which never lets the audience yawn. We have tried our best to do justice to it,” said Islam.
The set of the play has been designed by Anjum Ayaz, senior faculty member of Napa. The cast includes Adan Jaffer as Oedipus, Akbar Islam as Creon, Islam Khashkheli as Theseus, Hammad Sartaj as the Priest, Ali Kazmi as the messenger and the supporting characters are played by other Napa students.
This time, the show is open for all with no tickets as Napa officials want more and more people to come and enjoy the play. “We believe there is still much left to do in theatre and we want the youth to come and watch this play hence there are no tickets,” Islam added.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 5th, 2011.