LAHORE, Oct 13: The 12year-old annual feature of Lahore`s cultural calendar Youth Performing Arts Festival by Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop will kick off here on Oct 24 with theatre, music, dance and puppetry performances by 22 or so groups from all over the country.

The four-day event will be held at the Rafi Peer Cultural Complex on Raiwind Road.

`Youth Performing Arts Festival is an approach in promoting the image of Pakistan as a country rich in culture alongside presenting its young as a rising generation open and eager to learn about arts,` the festival`s creative director Saadan Pirzada told Dawn.

He said the festival was a step forward in encouragement of creativity in live performing arts such as theatre, music, dance and puppetry.

The ticketed event this year has only one international participation, that is from India.

The current law and order situation in the country has kept many international groups away from the festival.

There will be total 55 performances.

Dramatic societies of various educational institutions from Lahore and other cities are also participating in the festival. The city institutions participating in the festival include Alif Adab Societyfrom National College of Arts, Natak from Punjab University, University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore, Beaconhouse National University`s Beads and Char gram Society, Government College University Lahore, Forman Christian College, University of South Asia, University of Lahore and Lahore School of Economics.

Besides, performances by groups from Islamia University Bahawalpur, Institute of Space & Technology, Islamabad and Agriculture University, Faisalabad will be held.

Three professional theatre groups Ajoka Theatre, Azad Theatre and Drama Family would also be part of the festivity.

The schools from Lahore and other cities participating in the festival include Lahore Grammar School, Slamat School System for Boys, Beaconhouse School System for Girls, Faisalabad, Beaconhouse School System Csc Boys, Beaconhouse School System CSC Junior.

There will be two Mega Music Nights and a Dance Night during the festival. The dance night will be held on 25th Oct featuring multiple performances.

The first Music Night will be held on Oct 26th titled, `Rock in Raiwind` comprising performances by six metal rock bands. Ten pop bands and classical singers will perform on 27th Oct.