Children of K-town, this one is for you! National Academy of Performing arts is presenting, “Bachpan ke Rung”, a month long theatre ensemble that will transport children to the world of fairy tales, with classic stories from South Asian literature. These performances, entirely narrated in urdu, will also provide a contemporary look at the lives of children today. Besides providing their utility for entertainment, these plays will also be teaching children important life skills, including attainment of emotional intelligence and empathy.
The familiar stories of the past – alif laila, Alibaba chalees chor and chacha chakan, have been an important part of our childhood. While today’s children have this medium to learn new things, this will also be a great opportunity for their guardians – parents, siblings and teachers – to make a trip to the past and live that nostalgia of simple, beautiful stories that gave fundamental life lessons. Therefore, one of the directors of the plays, also states, “parents and teachers will have entertainment of their own”
Previous month in September 2019, two plays, “Chacha Chakkan” (directed by Zarqa Naz) and “Alibaba Chalees Chor” (directed by Umair Rafique) were performed at the Zia Moheeuddin theatre and the response has been a very supportive one. Audience feedback also includes suggestion for making these events a regular, and expanding this ensemble with even more character and stories, from local and international contexts.
You have to make sure you don’t miss out on the remaining shows they have in store this month
The first one is director Zakiullah Khan’s “I Am Possible”, which is an edutainment (Education with Entertainment) play that is interactive, action-oriented, with improvisation and animation. A musical play, I Am Possible will grab children’s attention with superhero and animal characters and interactive and entertaining scenes that help children understand bullying, respecting elders, taking care of the environment, and more. “I Am Possible” will be performed on 5th and 6th October at 6pm.
The second play, “Shehrbano ki Alif Laila” is directed by Shumaila Taj and retells the ever-famous Arabian tale of Alif Laila with a taste of contemporary life and new-age wisdom. A derwaish curses a king’s family, saying that generations from now, a child will be born who will cease to feel happiness on his twenty-first birthday. That child is now the king, Shah Meer. Artists and entertainers are brought from all over the kingdom to amuse him, but bored and unable to feel joy, he cruelly punishes them. A wise man tells him that the curse can only be broken by someone of pure heart and selfless intention. One day, a gypsy girl named Sheherbano comes to try her luck and tells him four tales. As the stories end, she begins a new tale, and then another one, for a thousand and one nights. It will be performed on 12th and 13th October at 6 pm.
So, listen to the cast and show up with your little ones at Zia Moheeuddin Theatre at NAPA. The price for one ticket is 300 rupees and if you’re a member of NAPA, your entry is free!
