he dramatic society at Kinnaird College for Women University, Lahore, was named after Mrs Lila Najmuddin, in 1970, as an acknowledgment of her contribution. Indeed, she had brought life and vitality to the college’s theatre group. Theatre at Kinnaird: Najmuddin Dramatics Society, published by the Kinnaird Archives Centre in collaboration with NDS, is a tribute to Mrs Najmuddin.

The coffee-table book traces KCWU’s theatrical journey, spanning over a period of hundred years.

The book, which is said to have taken three years to produce, celebrates iconic performances through the decades, and the people behind them such as Winifred Hladia Porter, Perin Cooper Boga, Susannah Harris, Kathleen Dall, Christine Cassin, Kauser Sheikh, Shama Salman Khaliq, Munawar Malik and Nadia Anjum, to name a few.

Through a rich blend of photographs, the book captures the spirit of creativity that has fuelled generations of students. From grand spectacles of Shakespearean tragedy to bold, experimental productions that challenged conventions and norms, every page of Theatre at Kinnaird: Najmuddin Dramatics Society pulses with the energy and dedication of those who have ever graced the stage and worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

Among the book’s greatest strengths is its ability to balance nostalgia with an appreciation for evolution. It highlights not only the dramatic society’s achievements, but also the way theatre at Kinnaird has embraced change over time — welcoming new voices, fresh perspectives and innovative storytelling techniques.

It highlights not only the dramatic society’s achievements, but also the way theatre at Kinnaird has embraced change over time — welcoming new voices, fresh perspectives, and innovative storytelling techniques.

Curated by Muhammad Owais Rana, a consultant at Kinnaird Archives Centre, the book talks particularly about the transformative moment in NDS, circa 1973, when the joining of Grace Mason, a Cambridge graduate, laid the groundwork for the college dramatics.

Traditionally, Hladia Hall and Perin Boga Amphitheatre have been the venues for these productions.

NDS has also had the honour to represent Kinnaird at the Dubai International Cultural Festival. In 2012, a troupe went to the Globe Theatre, London, as part of the World Shakespearean Festival.

Some of the notable alumni are still active in the field. They include Navid Shahzad, Shamim Hilaly, Seemi Raheal, Juggan Kazim, Samiya Mumtaz, Saveera Nadeem, Zeba Bakhtiar, Feryal Gauhar and Moneeza Hashmi.

For theatre lovers, alumni and students alike, this collection is both a time capsule and an invitation to celebrate the past, honour the present and dream about the future of theatre at educational institutes.

Theatre at Kinnaird: Najmuddin Dramatics Society

Curated by

Muhammad Owais Rana

Publisher: Kinnaird College for Women, 2024

Pages: 148

Price: 3000/-

Qurat-ul Ain Khalil is a lecturer at the Department of English Language and Literature, Kinnaird College for Women, Lahore