 | |
| Company type | Not-for-profit arts organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Entertainment |
| Genre | Urdu and Punjabi plays, social performance, street theatre & theatre for peace |
| Founded | 14 May 1984 |
| Founder | Madeeha Gauhar |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Madeeha Gauahar Shahid Nadeem Nirvaan Nadeem |
| Website | ajoka |
Ajoka Theatre (Urdu: اجوکا ناٹک, literal translation of Ajoka: "today/present") is a Pakistani not-for-profit arts organization based in Lahore, Punjab, with focus on producing and performing social theatrical stage productions, founded in 1984.[1] The group was formed by director, actress and playwright, Madeeha Gauhar at peak of the tensions during the state of emergency under the regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq.[1] Ajoka Theatre received the prestigious Prince Claus Award[2][3] in 2006 and the International Theatre Pasta Award in 2007.[4]
Since its inception, the group have staged many popular society critical pieces in theatres, on the streets and in public spaces, as well as in productions for television and on video. Ajoka Theatre has not only performed in Pakistan, but has also in the South Asian region, in countries like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as in Europe and United States of America.[5] The group focuses on promotion of a just, humane, secular and equal society, alongside the subject of women's rights in a society that is greatly dominated by men.[1][5]
The group's first ever theatrical performance was Jaloos (Procession) written by veteran Indian playwright Badal Sarkar.[1][6] The style of Ajoka's performances can be characterised as an elaboration on the oral tradition of Bhand and Nautanki that found a flourishing base in the area that currently overlaps the province of Punjab. In spite of the Western education of Gauhar, she does not limit herself to classical Western theatre techniques. Instead, she mixes authentic Pakistani elements, combining it with contemporary sentiments.[5]
- ^ a b c d Singh Bajeli, Diwan (2 February 2007) A voice for peace and amity, The Hindu
- ^ (16 December 2003) Madeeha Gauhar gets Dutch awards, Dawn News
- ^ Prince Claus Awards, award winners of 2006
- ^ Theatre Pasta (16 July 2008) interview Archived 19 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c Prince Claus Fund, profile[permanent dead link]
- ^ Khan, Sher (14 May 2014) 30 years of Ajoka, The Express Tribune