International Theatre Day to be marked on March 27

Karachi
The International Theatre Day is to be celebrated under the banner of the “I am Karachi” campaign, announced Zain Ahmed, one of the consortium members, while briefing the media on Thursday afternoon.
Ahmed said the group had planned a number of activities on the day in the city besides many other ongoing activities under the “I am Karachi” banner.
“Within ‘I am Karachi’, its music and theatre group has taken up the responsibility of promoting theatrical and musical activities not only as entertainment but also to grapple with the violence in the city through meaningful engagement and cultural performances,” Ahmed said.
The rule of law, he said, was no doubt of pivotal importance but so was the promotion of social and cultural values.
Ahmed said that with the spiraling violence in the city and shrinking of public spaces for cultural engagement, the consortium would endeavour to reclaim the spaces of Karachi through theatre and music across the city on the 27th at venues including Napa, the Arts Council, the National Museum, and others.
Noted showbiz personality Sania Saeed said what was most encouraging was the way people working separately were getting together under one roof. “Let us create opportunities for newcomers,” she said.
Another consortium member, Nida Butt, said, “The mission of the “I am Karachi” campaign, led by the civil society of Karachi, is to inculcate hope, pride and ownership among citizens to collectively strive for a peaceful city.”
“Its direct objectives are to reclaim public spaces, unite civil society and enhance public awareness and advocacy of socio-cultural causes of violence and advocate potential solutions.”
Among the many music and theatre celebrities that are associated with the campaign are
Sheema Kermani, Zain Ahmed, Nida Butt, Sameena Nazir, Meher Jafri, Bakhtawar Mazhar, and Shallum Xavier.