Thought-provoking 'Khali Stage' wins hearts on World Theatre Day

Marking World Theatre Day on Friday, the thought-provoking play "Khali Stage", presented in collaboration with Dolphin Communication and the Pakistan National Council of the Arts, captivated the audience with its powerful message and artistic brilliance. The hall echoed with applause for a long time after the outstanding performance, as attendees paid rich tribute to the creative efforts of Asma Ismail Butt. They remarked that such meaningful and creative productions not only breathe new life into theatre but also play a vital role in highlighting social values and intellectual awareness. The play was written by Muhammad Waqar Azeem, while direction and presentation were led by Ms. Asma Ismail Butt. The drama effectively and movingly portrayed the spirit of theatre, its history, and its decline and revival. The cast included Lareb Rathore, Imran Rashdi, Kaleem Khan, Masooma Shah, Noor Shararti, Waqas, and Samran Ali, all of whom delivered powerful and deeply felt performances that received great appreciation from the audience. The story revolves around a young girl who is deeply connected to theatre. On an empty stage, she begins to see characters from the past come alive before her eyes. However, as soon as a modern director enters the scene, all the characters disappear.The dialogue that unfolds between the girl and the director reflects the lack of creative spirit in modern theatre and raises important questions about its future. According to the CEO of Dolphin Communication, Ms. Asma Ismail Butt, "Khali Stage" is a sincere effort to highlight the creative and intellectual dimensions of theatre and to remind audiences of its enduring importance. At the end of the performance, the audience praised the play wholeheartedly and stated that such productions play an important and necessary role in promoting intellectual awareness and cultural sensitivity in society. World Theatre Day (WTD) is an international observance celebrated on 27 March. It was initiated in 1961 by the International Theatre Institute. World Theatre Day was initiated in 1962 by the International Theatre Institute (ITI). It is celebrated annually on 27 March by ITI Centres and the international theatre community. Various national and international theatre events are organized to mark this occasion. One of the most important of these is the circulation of the World Theatre Day International Message through which at the invitation of ITI, a figure of world stature shares his or her reflections on the theme of Theatre and a Culture of Peace. The first World Theatre Day International Message was written by Jean Cocteau (France) in 1962. It was first in Helsinki, and then in Vienna at the 9th World Congress of the ITI in June 1961 that President Arvi Kivimaa proposed on behalf of the Finnish Centre of the International Theatre Institute that a World Theatre Day be instituted. The proposal, backed by the Scandinavian centres, was carried with acclamation. The 2023 International Message was entrusted to Samiha Ayoub, an Egyptian actress mainly in theater, but also active in the world of cinema and television. For the 62nd edition of World Theatre Day in 2024, the message, entitled 'Art is Peace', was written by Jon Fosse, Norwegian writer and playwright. It strongly and profoundly recalls the founding values of theatre with respect to the global community, emphasizing the peaceful and universal value of art. The 2026 International Massage was entrusted to American actor Willem Dafoe with the conclusion: "In a world that seems to get more divisive, controlling and violent, our challenge as theatre makers is to avoid the corruption of theatre solely as a commercial enterprise dedicated to the entertainment by distraction or as the dry institutional preserver of traditions, but rather to foster its strength to connect peoples, communities, cultures and above all to question where we are going."