Iran’s theatre ensemble to perform in Pakistan festival
Iranian theatrical artists to stage performance in Pakistan’s Theatre Festival, which opened in Karachi on September 8 and will run until October 8.
The Pakistani festival will host ‘Tik Tok’ performance by Petvazh theatre group in the first week of October at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi.
Directed by Ahmad Nadaafi, the ensemble consists of Maryam Hashemi, Alireza Kaghazgaran, Reza A’zami-raad and Mehdi Sarsangi, as reported by Tasnim news agency.
The group will also hold workshops for Pakistani theatregoers.
At the invitation of the head of the Pakistan Arts Council, Saeed Talebinia, who is affiliated with the Iranian Embassy in Pakistan and is responsible for the Iran Culture Center in Karachi, attended the opening ceremony of the event as a special guest.
Talebinia elaborated on the advancements in Iranian cinema and theatrical arts during the 44-year period of the Islamic Revolution and expressed Iran’s interest in expanding artistic relations with Pakistan.
“Considering the Islamic Republic of Iran’s interest in cultural diplomacy and its profound impact on neighboring nations, and upon the invitation of the Pakistani side, the Iran Culture Center, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance’s Performing Arts Center, has taken the necessary steps to have a prominent Iranian theatre group in the festival.”
In addition, Punjab Governor Baleegh-ur-Rehman said that art unites people and gives them a channel to express themselves. He added that he was happy to see plays in so many regional and international languages which would help the people of Pakistan to understand each other.
The idea behind the festival is to portray a “soft image” of Pakistan and to bring some respite to masses in difficult economic times, according to ACP President Mohammad Ahmed Shah.
“This is the first time we are having a theatre festival of this scale with international partnerships. We have tried to create diversity as well as unity. We want to send out an image of Pakistan that reflects its people want to prosper despite difficult circumstances,” Shah told Arab News at the opening ceremony.
Theatre groups from different countries are participating in the festival and 45 performances in Urdu, English, Persian, Sindhi, Punjabi languages are being presented during the festival. The festival is hosting 27 Pakistani groups as well as seven foreign ensembles.