LAHORE: The Ajoka Theatre has collaborated with Georgetown University, Washington, for a new production based on the use of responsiblescienceinthePakistani society, says a press release.

The Ajoka team arranged a reading of the new play at the Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (PILAC) on Friday which was attended by experts from science, medicine, theatre, music and fine arts.

Written by Ajoka Theatre`s executive director Shahid Nadeem, the play is based on an interesting plot which highlights the misconceptions related to scientific knowledge and gives message to adopt a positive approach towards new innovations and advancements in the fields of science and technology.

The Ajoka team, after reading the play, screened a documentary based on their project of `Empowerment Theatre Project`.

The Ajoka Theatre has done an18-month-long project with the Danish cultural and development organization, CKU, and developed new plays, arranged seminars, theatre festivals, workshops and other activities during the project.

The release also mentions Ajoka`s performance in 2016. Ajoka ended the year with a week-long tour of Sindh with `Bulha` and `Kabira Khara Bazaar Mein`. The playswere performedinHyderabad and Larkana.

The 2016 has been the most hectic for the untiring Ajoka team. The year started with a theatre for peace workshop in Lahore conducted by Indian theatre expert Kewal Dhaliwal which was followed by the premiere of Bisham Sahni`s play `Kabira Khara Bazaar Mein`, directed by Kewal Dhaliwal.

In February, Shahid Nadeem attended the screening of Manto at the Karachi Literature Festival and participated in the Q&A.

In March, Ajoka`s new play `Anhi Mai Da Sufnna` (The Blind Old Woman`s Dream) was presented. The play was written by Shahid Nadeem and directed byveteran Indian theatre director Usha Ganguli.

In April, Shahid attended a reading of his play `Dara` at the International Pen`s World Voices Festival in New York. Ajoka crossed the border to present its play on Manto in Amritsar, the birthplace of the great Urdu writer.

In July, Ajoka held its second Humsaya Theatre Festival in Chandigarh where it performed five plays -`Dara`, `Mera Rang Da Basanti Chola`, `Kabira Khara Bazaar Mein`, `Anhi Mai Da Sufna` and `Lo Phir Basant Ayee` In August, `Bulha` was performed at the Lok Virsa and `Anhi Mae Da Sufna` in Islamabad and `Dekh Tamasha Chalta Ban` in Yohanabad.

During the summer, the theatre workshops were conducted in Quetta and Swat for local young activists.

In the autumn, `Bala King` was performed at the Agriculture University, Faisalabad, and `Dara` was screened at LUMS University, Lahore. New play `Talismati Tota` was premiered in October.In November, Ajoka held second four-day Empowerment Youth Theatre Festival at Government College University where plays by youth groups and Ajoka`s young team were presented. Ajoka toured Denmark with `Bulha` which was performed in Helsingor.

New play `Dukh Dara` opened in Lahore on Dec 8 and later Ajoka travelled to Islamabad where three plays -`Dukh Darya`, `Kabira Khara Bazaar Mein` and `Bala King` were staged at the PNCA auditorium.

Ajoka presented `Anhi Mai...

at the opening of the Faiz International Festival in Lahore.

During the year Ajoka interacted with various foreign groups, including Manch Rang Manch, Rangakarmee, Kolkata and Adakar Manch, Chandigarh.

Associate director of Birmingham Rep Tessa Walker visited Lahore to hold a workshop. In November, UK`s Dina Mossavi of Complicite and Ryan Van Winkle of Highlight Arts visited the city and held a workshop for a play on death penalty.