Actor Waleed Zaidi recently spoke about theatre to students at Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) on the occasion of their Drama Society orientation. The society, called ‘Dramaline’, invited Zaidi to share his personal experience as a theatre actor and give pointers on how to successfully stage a production. Zaidi spoke extensively to LUMS students on how theatre helps in real life in areas such as team building, improvisation, confidence and the like. He also encouraged students of acting to know their audience and shared the ways in which to accomplish this effectively through noting the audience one is performing to and unfortunately stereotyping to some extent. By doing this an actor will know what to say, when to say it and how to say it. Zaidi highlighted the importance of wit in actors which can do wonders for a successful performance and explained how theatre can really help build the skill. He shared a few things he has learnt along the way including how he accidentally got into acting when he entered an LGS (Lahore Grammar School) theatre competition. Waleed also stressed on team work being the key in any production where one has to let the co-actor for instance, lead, if he/she is good. If the co-actor is inexperienced then one must take him along in a performance. “Coexistence is of utmost importance as the theater play is the end product that the team has to collectively strive to make a success – it is never about individual egos.” Zaidi can currently be seen g in ARY’s drama ‘Visaal,’ playing a character called Doodhpatti who is a street thief that the main character Akku takes under his wing and they end up forming a duo. Published in Daily Times, November 1st 2018.