Daily Times

LAHORE: Ajoka Theatre on Monday organised the screening of its renowned theatre play ‘Dara’ (adapted version) in English language at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS).

The screening comprised a recording of Dara’s adaptation by the prestigious National Theatre of UK. The screening was followed by a conversation with writer and director of the play Shahid Nadeem, Ajoka Theatre Director Madeeha Gauhar, Ajoka and National Theatre Production Consultant Anwar Akhtar and LUMS Assistant Professor Dr Taimur Rahman. Students, academics and other guests attended the event.

Dara is a portrayal of 17th century Mughal royals, the Shah Jahan family, and addresses many debates about varying interpretations of Islam among the Islamic world and in particular South Asia. Ajoka produced Dara in 2010 and the play was widely performed in Pakistan and India.

A British website, thesamosa.co.uk, was able to introduce Ajoka Theatre and Dara to the National Theatre of Uk’s attention. The national theatre was inspired to produce and present Dara in partnership with Ajoka at one of Britain’s most prestigious art venues. Samosa’s Anwar Akhtar acted as production consultant and broker between the national theatre and Ajoka Theatre Company.

This partnership oversaw an intensive creative production process of Dara’s adaptation and production. Dara was seen by over 30,000 people in London over 36 performances through the spring of 2015.

It was the first time that work of a Pakistani theatre company was adapted and staged by the National Theatre of UK. As a response to the hugely positive press and audience responses to the play, the national theatre took steps to secure the legacy of this play. A high quality film was made on the full live performance of Dara in order to secure the play for cultural, educational and arts festival screenings.

In his address, Shahid Nadeem spoke about his work as a writer of socially meaningful plays for over thirty years and the historical and thematic significance of Dara, which highlighted the conflict between Prince Dara Shikoh and Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. He said Ajoka was encouraged and inspired by the critical and popular acclaim the play received in Britain. Madeeha Gauhar on the occasion said while the original play and its adaptation told the same story, but the production style was quite different.

Anwar Akhtar talked about his role in introducing Ajoka’s work to the national theatre and making the play accessible to both the mainstream British audience as well as the British Asian and Muslim communities. He hoped that organisations such as the British Council and members of Pakistan’s wealthy elite would give more support to arts and education in the country.

Earlier, in his introductory remarks, Dr Taimur Rehman praised Ajoka Theatre’s contribution to socially meaningful and artistically high quality theatre in Pakistan. “Dara’s success at the National Theatre of UK was a big breakthrough for Ajoka and Pakistani theatre and presented the progressive face of Pakistani culture for the western audience,” he added.