Pakistan troupe stages play against child sexual abuse

Sexual assault on children and the insensitivities on the part of the media while reporting on such cases has been portrayed in play form by visiting theatre group from Pakistan.
Lahore-based troupe Mass Foundation "Guddo" staged the one-hour long play in Punjabi here late last evening as part of the Delhi International Arts Festival.
The group, which has emerged as one of the successful theatre groups in Pakistan highlights social issues prevalent in the society.
Aamir Nawaz, Director, Mass foundation and an artist from Lahore, started the group in 2002 with three of his friends in Pakistan.
"I feel that theatre is not just a way of entertainment. It can be used as a medium for spreading some message giving a ray of hope to the people and the catharsis that the common man have. We have to become the language of that common person so that he or she will relate to it," says Nawaz.

'Guddo' is set in a village and revolves around a girl who is sexually assaulted and killed and the reportage of the event by media which resorts to manipulation.

Music for the play staged with a cast of nine was composed by Wadat Rabeez and poetry penned by Sultan Bahu, BaBu Bulleshah and BaBa Fareed.
The director says he has staged over 20 plays and produced 200 shows in a span of twelve years. Most of his works revolve around various social issues like AIDS, child labour, women rights etc.
They do 30 to 35 performances yearly with his production which comprises talented young artists.

"In Pakistan people are very much interested in theatre. There are only five to six well established theatre groups there who are doing regular works and giving new productions in quick sessions," says Nawaz, who also wrote the play.
"The play titled 'Parmeshwar Singh' is closest to my heart as it is the story of a sikh child who was lost in India in 1947. The story is based on issues of peace and harmony," says the writer.
"Performing in India has always been a great experience. We are performing here for the fifth time, it seems we are performing in Pakistan. People are so good here and everyone is friendly and warm to us we got the same response as we get from Lahore," says Nawaz.

"It is always easier working here, because the language is same, the way of working is also similar" he says.