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World Performing Arts Festival draws large audiences

* Festival features artistes from 40 countries
* 30 percent of ticket sales to go to earthquake relief

By Shoaib Ahmed

LAHORE: Performing arts aficionados from all parts of the country are flocking to the Alhamra Cultural Complex for the World Performing Arts Festival 2005.

The annual gala by the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop features performances by local and international artistes from 40 countries. The festival is being held in collaboration with Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) and the Lahore Arts Council (LAC).

Faizan Peerzada, the president of the festival, told Daily Times on Wednesday that 30 percent of the sales from tickets will go to the victims of the October 8 earthquake, which killed more than 73,000 people and left 3 million homeless.

He said that the Polish Ambassador to Pakistan Bogdan Macczewski will visit the festival on November 26, and will witness a performance – The Ugly One – by Polish puppeteer group Tecza State Puppet. The famous film director and editor of Sound Lines Magazine – Simon Broughton – will also visit the festival in the next two days.

Several performances attracted large audiences on Wednesday. Jack and Joe, a silent Italian play, was the focus of many theatre-lovers’ attention. The play presented the rhythm of daily life and its repressive effects as evils of the new century, with Jack and Joe embodying the hyper-realistic parody of such a life.

A dance performance by Purva School of BhartiyaNatyam from Baroda, India, was seen by a large crowd. The theme of the dance was the origin of the universe and subsequent evolution.

An Indian play, Begum aur Bhagi, by Nipa Rangmandali was viewed with enthusiasm. Nipa Rangmandali – an ensemble of eminent theatre artists from Lucknow – was established in 1991. The Hindi play depicted the complexities of human nature and the socio-political vibes of today’s world. It spoke out against dictatorial regimes and featured the sufferance and revolt of women in times of upheavals. The play ended on a call to protect the innocence of humanity from hatred and violence.

The folk night was the final event of the day, with renowned singers Reshmaan, Arif Lohaar and the Niazi brothers enthralling the audience with their melodious tunes. Foreign folk performances featured artistes from the US, Czech Republic and Sri Lanka.

Andrew Thomas, a self-taught American flutist, and the multi-ethnic band Cankisou were particularly popular with the audience. Caniksou’s music is based on positive energy and substantial wind instruments.

Lohaar’s performance was also greatly appreciated by music-lovers.

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