Mission Statement:
“To create innovative theatre, using folk and modern techniques of stagecraft, to help change prevalent attitudes and behaviours, towards creating a society free of prejudice and discrimination.”
Objective:
• Highlighting social ills using theatre
• Combining Folk theatre techniques with Modern theatre techniques to create a more relevant, more accessible contemporary theatre
• Revitalizing Folk theatre and Traditional theatre techniques
• Providing a platform for exploring, creating and performing a new theatre
Planning:
Train newcomers and facilitate their integration into the mainstream as Actors, Directors, Writers, Sound & Light Directors, and Set Designers.
• Spread awareness on actors’ rights and help end the institutional exploitation of actors.
• Develop an active, thriving Repertory Theatre Company.
• Provide Financial Aid to actors, and help them dedicate more of their time to their creative growth. Incorporate contemporary theatre techniques into our theatre training. AZAD THEATRE
(Registered under ACT 1860)
Profile:
Although Azad Theatre was established as an organisation as recently as 2011, it consists of a very experienced and dynamic team with over 22 years of experience in theatre. The team is amongst the best-trained theatre teams in Pakistan, since all its members have attended a number of national and international workshops over the years, and have been trained in international as well as local theatre techniques. The team has been performing in the mainstream since the last 20 years, and has hence gained insights about folk and modern theatre techniques. Azad Theatre’s Achievements during 2011-2013
• Azad Theatre worked with KASHF in August 2011 and performed 20 performances in 5 cities of Punjab (Lahore, Sahiwal, Okara, Chichawatni and Faiasalabad on gender equality and women’s empowerment.
• Azad Thaetre also performed 20 performances on health issues ( Dengue Awareness campaign) with Government of Punjab in Lahore in September 2011.
• Azad Theatre Participated with its Major Production Dewana Bekar-e-Kheesh Hosiyar” in National Theatre Festival organized by Pakistan National Council of Arts, Islamabad in December 2011.
• Azad Theatre provided Technical Facilitation ( Lights and Set Designing, Choreography) to three schools for their theatre productions: Anarkali performed at St.Anthony’s School, Sasi staged at Lahore Grammar School and X-Mas Play at St. Anthony’s School.
• Azad Theatre in collaboration with Punjab Government presented Whirling Dervish Dance for Turkish Mayor H.E Qadeer Tobash on 11th March 2012 at Hazoori Bagh.
• Azad Theatre recently Performed a play “ Rustam-o-Sohrab” by Legendry Playwright of Urdu Literature Agha Hashar Kashmire in collabration with Lahore Arts Council from 4th to 6th June 2012 at Alhamra Arts Council, Lahore .
• Azad Theatre performed a play with Government of Punjab for dengue awerarence in September 2012 at Alhamra, Lahore
• Azad Theatre performed new play on Bhagat Singh “ Chuppan Tu Pehlan” at Lahore in September 2012,
• Azad Theatre celebrated Manto’s Hundred years with its new play “ DAFA 292” at Lahore in November 2012.
• Azad Theatre in collaboration with Heinrich Boll Stiftung arranged community performance at Lahore, Gujranwala, Sailkot,Multan, Peshawar and Abbotabad on political awareness campaign through theatre with its play “ Bacha Jamhora” in December 2012.
• Azad Theatre conducted theatre training workshop with the labourers and farmers of District Layyah with the support of SAP-PAK from January to March 2013.
• Azad Theatre performed its new play “ Akhiyaan” at Lahore from 1st to 3rd May, 2013. This play is a first step of reviving of traditional folk theatre in Pakistan and it was written by great theatre activist Rafi Peer.
• Azad Theatre with the support of SDPD, Islamabad prepared and performed a play “ ........?” on the political and social corruption in our society. This play was performed at Lahore on 6th to 9th May, 2013.
• Azad Theatre performed New play “ TOOTAN WALA KHOOH” on peace at Lahore Alhamra Hall No 1 on 14th September 2013.
• Azad Theatre participated in 6th Annual Conference on the International Day of Rural Women at LOK VERSA, Islamabad with its new play “ AURAT KAHANI” on 30th October, 2013
