Youth festival: Mime performance enthralls audiences

Second day features eight theatre plays

LAHORE: A mime performance on the story of a mother’s selfless efforts in the upbringing of her only son received a round of applause by the audience on the second day of the Youth Performing Arts Festival underway at the Alhamra Cultural Complex.

The 25-minute performance, Irtiqa, by the University of South Asia (USA) students showed a woman who devotes all her time to the upbringing of her son.

She sends him abroad for higher education. Instead of being grateful, the boy grows careless and does not even visit his mother when he returns after finishing his education.

The boy realises his mistake on discovering a letter written by his mother detailing her sacrifices for his upbringing. The letter is delivered to him after the mother’s death.

The second day of the festival featured eight theatre performances, including mimes, a dance performance and workshops on commercial choreography and writing.

The Open-Air Theatre was packed to capacity for all performances of the day.

Taiyaba Aizaz, an audience member, said she had come to watch her granddaughter’s dance performance.

“It’s the first time I have come to this festival. I really liked the mime performances,” she said.

Visitors to the festival could also enjoy the dhol and dance performances by men dressed up as horse riders.

One of the performers at the entrance to the theatre said he had been performing at festivals for 10 years. Several visitors also joined the dancers.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2015.