The Hindu : News / National: Even though host National School of Drama cancelled Madeeha Gauhar’s theatre group’s performance on noted Urdu writer Saadat Hasan Manto at the ongoing “Bharat Rang Mahotsav,” the Pakistani director had the last laugh as her play “Kaun Hai Yeh Gustakh” was finally staged at the Akshara Theatre here on Saturday to a packed house.
Ms. Gauhar, a peace activist who has been campaigning for people-to-people contact for the past 24 years, said: “NSD invited us [Ajoka group] to host a play as both countries are celebrating the centenary of Manto, who stood against fundamentalism all his life. Both countries share the same history, culture and tradition. This play was produced especially for the international theatre festival in Delhi. The decision to cancel our performance along with NAPA Repertory Theatre of Karachi was unfortunate and without any logic.”
1 comment:
I am so happy this article was posted on the blog this week... Sometimes, I feel like especially while at school, we are insulated from what art can really accomplish and how the rest of the world often sees theatre and art as something subversive or something that needs to be controlled and contained. This is a wonderful example of how theatre can be a force for change and how it can be a demonstration to others in the community of the possibilities that exist. In this case, the theatre company sees itself as an example for what peacetime could be like, and the necessity of pursuing some kind of peace between the two nations. I hope that i the future, everyone has a chance to experience something that can hold this much power and influence.
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