LAHORE: Azad Theatre staged its 15th drama titled Do Doni Chaar at Alhamra Cultural Complex, Qadhafi Stadium, on Tuesday night.

A large audience came to see the 70-minute play.

Written by William Pervaiz and directed by Malik Aslam, the play had strong message for the government in particular and for society in general that illiteracy was the most challenging issue.

Chief guest former Punjab governor Khalid Maqbool lauded the play. Former hockey player-turned-politician Akhtar Rasool also praised the efforts of Azad Theatre and said the education minister should also see the play.

It is a non-ticketed play and will continue till Dec 5.

The set was rich, in the background there was a special canvas scenery that depicted the pastoral scene of a Punjab village. The stage also had minute details of a village house.

The play alsoraisedissues of political pressures mounted on village people for not establishing a school at the allocated space rather the feudal lord of the village turned the place into a cowshed.

The issues of illiteracy and money taken on interest by a poor family to treat their special child and how the family was later pressurised by the moneylender, were also highlighted. The lighting was good and so was the acting.

The issue of public and private schools was also raised in the play.

A statement regarding free education given by the government under the 18th amendment was the high focus of the play as it was also written by a white chalk on a blackboard placed in the middle of the stage. The statement was, `The article 25-A states that the government of Pakistan is responsible for the free education of all children aged 5-16. Even though such policies are important, they carry no weight and offer no benehts if they are not responsibly and timely implemented.

The cast include Sarfraz Ansari, Zohaib Haider, Aaliya Abbasi, Naina Baloch, Zoya Qzai, Sachal Ahmed Ghazi, Husain Ali, Nad-e-Ali, Nadeem Abbas, Waseem Ali, Imran Khan, Safina Malik. The music was composed by Adnan Jhan, Akheem Raja.

Since 2011 Azad Theatre has produced 13 original plays and one adaptation; for example, DAFA 292, a play adapted from Sadat Hassan Manto`s shorts stories (Kali Shalwar, Dhuwan, Bo, Toba Tek Singh, Thanda Goshat).