Ajoka stages play 'Lappar'

Lahore:Ajoka Theatre resumed on-ground performances which were earlier interrupted by the corona pandemic by reviving its acclaimed play Lappar.

The play was also live-streamed on Facebook. Written by Ajoka’s Shahid Nadeem and originally directed by Ajoka founder late Madeeha Gauhar, the play is about the prejudice against girl child. Presented in the well-known Ajoka style of addressing serious issues in an artistic and entertaining way, Lappar has songs and satire to enable the audience to be amused and enlightened by the performance. The chief guest of the occasion Justice (r) Nasira Iqbal congratulated Ajoka on resuming its struggle for promotion of social issues through entertaining theatre. She appreciated the performances of the all-female cast, including young actors appearing on stage for the first time.

Shahid Nadeem said the hybrid performance was an experiment, a sign of the future shape of theatre in future. He vowed that Ajoka would continue to raise social awareness with meaningful productions.

The cast included Razia Malik, Aisha Hasan, Madeeha Rasheed, Ishrat Shaheen, Shagufta Saleem, Rania Mohsin, Shiza Khan and Yusra Irfan. The play received enthusiastic applause from the on-ground and online audience.

Ajoka Chairperson Zara Salman and General Secretary Sohail Warraich and Ajoka Institute Director Nirvaan Nadeem also watched the performance.

Nirvaan said it was very encouraging to see young actors, especially young girls, participating in theatre with such commitment. He said that play was actually a slap in the face of unjust patriarchal values which discriminated against the girl children. He said that it was very distressing that the story of the play was still relevant today. Zara Salman thanked Australia Awards alumni for organising an exclusive Facebook event to watch the performance.