.:.GC University Lahore

GC University Lahore Dramatics Club (GCUDC) symbolic play �Deewar� enthralled the visiting delegation of 200 Indian scouts at a special cultural evening �Camp Fire� organised by the GCU Rovers Club at the University�s Bukhari Auditorium. Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman, Vice Chancellor, GC University Lahore, was the Chief Guest at the evening which was marked by performance of musical compositions, folk tunes, cultural dances, peace songs, skits and Urdu symbolic play �Deewar�. Deewar opens at a rural locality with two squabbling neighbours.

Both families are shown to be from the farming community living in modest houses. There is a line of bricks that divides the houses. This wall is extended beyond its physical contours by the two farmers who keep blaming each other for creating problems in their homes. The audience was easily able to identify the two families as representing Pakistan and India. Interestingly, the women of the two houses seem reluctant to share their husbands� enmity. As soon as the men are away, they climb the wall to comfort each other. A wily Chaudhry sahib pays visits to both families playing on the suspicions of the two men. The two farmers plead to him for weapons in return for complete subservience. However, the schemes of the Chaudhary seem to suffer a setback when the two men decide to make amends and give peace a chance to work. Each decides to approach the other the next morning, but before they are able to meet, the Chaudhary sets fire to one of the two houses. This creates panic and the two families return to their blame game as the curtains fall on the fighting farmers. At the conclusion of the play, the scouts from Pakistan gave their salute to the GCU Dramatics Club, saying that India and Pakistan should also give peace a chance. The Indian scouts were highly appreciative of the symbolism and acting in Deewar. They were amazed at the actors� mastery over the Indian dialect. Some of them went to the stage to laud the performers.


Pakistani Scouts while giving away Peace Card to Indian Scouts	Vice Chancellor GCUL while giving away Souvenir to Indian Scouts Leader

Addressing the Camp Fire ceremony, Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman; Vice Chancellor, GC University Lahore said that theatre had an important function to reform the society. He said that GCU had made it a trend to challenge taboos and unjustified conventions through its powerful dramatic performances. Prof. Khaleeq said that no Chaudharies, like the one in Deewar, should be allowed to foment intolerance and hatred between the two nations. All deewars or walls that divide on the basis of hatred should be brought down. He appreciated GCU Dramatics Club for introducing a new trend of writing its own plays and lauded the team for successfully staging its fourth consecutive home production.

(09-05-2012)

GCU DRAMATICS CLUB stages �Sazaa Yaab

The GC University Dramatics Club staged its annual play �Sazaa Yaab� which highlights dilemmas and excruciating circumstances faced by rape victims in Pakistan. Although the Urdu play is a story of a woman; it also chastises quackery, discrepancies in judicial system, double standards, gender discrimination, sensationalization of human miseries by media and shame moralities.

Saza Yaab begins in the courtyard of the home where a middle-aged man, Nazim Sher Samand, who is tossing and turning in his sleep. He wakes up with a start and feels instant pangs in his chest. He calls out his family members claiming that a mysterious sign that has been appearing on his chest has appeared again. His wife and grandson dismiss him as a lunatic. The lights dim to an eerie blue as the audience can see his bare chest.

The play goes twenty years in the past where Nazim Sher Samand is launching a tirade against Akifa Chaudry, alleging that she dressing inappropriately and works late hours in an office. The course of events leads to Akifa�s gang rape at the hands of masked men. Akifa�s neighbours, led by Sher Samand excommunicate her and covertly paint a cross on her door, marking the household as outcasts.

Act III opens in a courtroom. Akifa has filed a petition against the people of her locality. Akifa has just two witnesses to support her rape claim: an autistic youth called Bhola, played by Omar Ijaz, and a flamboyant gynandromorphy named Khushboo, played by Omar Shahzad. The defense counsel dismisses Bhola�s testimony on the grounds of mental instability. Since Khushboo is not biologically a �complete� man, her testimony carries half the weight.

Akifa�s case is dealt a further blow by the pompous community leader Shair Samand, who launches a tirade against the victim�s character. The court dismisses Akifa�s petition on the grounds of insufficient evidence.

Shair Samand is left gloating in the court. The scene moves back to the present where Nazim Sher Samand is an old, feeble man bellowing to his family members to come out and see the mysterious sign on his chest. The family members dismiss him. Sher Samand is left alone while the lights dim to eerie blue. Sher Samand rips his shirt. This time, the audience can see a cross on his chest. It is the same cross that he had pinned outside Akifa's house. The play also highlights how media indulges in sensational issues and sells human miseries. It shows how a reporter dehumanizes social victims just to increase rating of its channel. Saza Yaab is a blend with quality humor interspersed with music.

The cast for the play includes Zohaib Zafar Naqvi, Usama Akber, Zunaira Khalid, Abduallah Waleed Hashmi, Umer Dar, Imran Yaseen, Umer Shahzad, Muzamil Tarar, Maryam Naseem, Saba Fayyaz, Hajra Saeed, Sauud Ijaz Butt, Omar Ijaz, Yousra Anwar, Muzamil Shabbir, Mujtaba Khan, Iram Fareed, Usama Chaudhary, Nayab Faiza Aslam, and Tasawar Iqbal.

GCU Dramatics Club Advisor Sameer Ahmed said that the GCU Dramatics Club has tried to augment its powerful performance with deft use of light effects. The specialty of the play is its acting complemented with interesting theatrical innovations. The curtain closed only twice during the three act play. The scene shifts were managed through lighting effects.

Addressing a ceremony after the drama, Lahore High Court former chief justice Khwaja Muhammad Sharif said that he had come to watch a dramatic performance after 20 years and was thrilled by the efforts of GCU Dramatics Club. He said theatre can encourage social reforms and so it is imperative that university theatre groups pick up themes which educate as well as entertain.

Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman; Izaz-i-Kamal, Vice Chancellor GC University Lahore was also present on the occasion and applauded the performance of GCUDC actors. He congratulated GCUDC on taking creativity to a new level by writing the play themselves and aspired to continue such activities in future too.

(16-04-2012)

GCUDC STAGES PLAY "KAL KAY QUAID� AT UET STUDENT SEMINAR

A play �Kal Kay Quaid�, staged by GCU Dramatics Club (GCUDC), met with a loud applause at the youth seminar organized by the Punjab government at the University of Engineering and Technology Lahore Convocation Hall to mark the birth anniversary of Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Pakistan Muslim League -Nawaz (PML-N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was the Chief Guest, while Punjab University Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Mujahid Kamran, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman and University of Education Lahore Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Faiz-ul-Hasan were also present.

The President of PML (N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif congradulates GCU Dramatics Club on their performance.

The GCUDC play, �Kal Kay Quaid�, presented four youths from different social backgrounds, discussing their future prospects in the country. Anam, a third-year student is irritated by the scarcity of public transport. Her classmate, the acerbic Noman, comments that the transport system is reflective of the stagnation in the society, and presents a picture of the dismal state the country is in. Anam retorts, saying that if the country is going nowhere, it is the responsibility of the youth to steer it to prosperity. Noman, nonetheless, is relentless in his criticism of the country, and is joined in his carping by Omar, an indifferent pessimistic student of computer science. While the three are arguing, a �malang� sitting nearby butts in the conversation. He reminds Noman that it is this country, regardless of the prevailing political turmoil, that has afforded him with education. It is on the basis of this education that he is applying for immigration to a foreign country. Anam agrees with the �Malang�s� thoughts, and joins him in exhorting Noman and Omar to work for the uplift of the country. The gist of his argument is that the country needs the efforts of the youth, and not incessant pessimism, to lead it to prosperity. This was the message of the Quaid, one that the youth of the nation, had unfortunately forgotten. Anam and the �Malang� finally convince Noman and Omar to make untiring efforts for the country. Noman decides not to apply for immigration immediately. The play ended with Junoon�s song �Azadi� to which the audience gave a thunderous applause.

Chief Guest, Mian Nawaz Sharif, rose from his seat and went to the performers of GCU Dramatics Club to congratulate them on their performance. Mian Nawaz Sharif joined the young actors as they took the curtain call on stage. The cast of the play included Nayab Faiza, Sauud Ijaz, Omar Shahzad and Tasawar Iqbal. The production team of the play was Mariam Darakshan, Saad Jamal, Fatima Tahir, Zohaib Zafar, Ali Khadim, Usman Khadim and Wajiha Komal.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman; Izaz-I-Kamal, expressed pleasure over the tremendous performance of the GCU Dramatics Club and congratulated all its hardworking members. He said that theatre had a worthwhile contribution in social reformation. It is, therefore, impetrative for University theatre groups to pick up themes which educate as much as entertain to students.

(26-12-2011)

GCUDC wins British Council Drama Competition

The GC University Lahore Dramatics Club (GCUDC) magnum opus �Shaoor� has won the first prize at All Pakistan Drama Competition organized by the British Council at the Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore. The Competition was the part of week-long cultural activities �Active Citizens� organized by the British Council to celebrate the achievements of the youth of Pakistan. The drama competition held at the concluding day remained the most colourful event in which the teams of seven leading institutions including Beacon House National University, FAST University, Kinnaird College for Women, LUMS and Queen Mary College for Women Lahore participated.

The members of GC University Lahore Dramatics club receives first prize at the

All Pakistan Drama Competition organized by the British Council at the Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore.

The play involved deft use of lights and appropriate music at the opening and climax of the play. This was ensured by the production team of GCUDC that included Mariam Darakshan, Sa�ad Jamal, Fatima Tahir, Usman Khadim, Ali Khadim, Ali Murtaza, Amir Khan Afridi, Zain Tahir, Yusra Anwar, Sa�ad Nadeem and Mohammad Arsalan. The audience gave a thunderous roar of applause when the play concluded. They were also appreciative of the minor characters in the play who played their roles realistically and convincingly. Omar Dar, playing the lethargic court attendant; Omar Shahzad as the colourful Khusboo; Omar Ijaz as the autistic Bhola; Ali Virk as the callous policeman; Zohaib Zafar as the sessions� court judge, and Saud Ejaz as the holier-than-thou Shair Samand, all fit their parts well. The court attendant and Bhola were appreciated while they were delivering their lines, while Khusboo was given a standing ovation by members of the audience. The play was conceived by faculty members Professors Yasir Sultan, Bilal Ahmed and Sameer Ahmed. It was written by Tasawar Iqbal and directed by in-charge GCUDC, Sameer Ahmed.

The members of GC University Lahore Dramatics club celebrate after receiving first prize at the

All Pakistan Drama Competition organized by the British Council at the Pearl Continental Hotel Lahore.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. (Meritorious) Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rahman; Izaz-e-Kamal, has expressed pleasure over the tremendous achievement of the GCU Dramatics Club and congratulated all its hardworking members. He said that theatre had a worthwhile contribution in social reformation. It is, therefore, impetrative for university theatre groups to pick up themes which educate as much as entertain students.

(12-12-2011)

GCUDC STAGES MUMTAZ MUFTI�S MAGNUM OPUS NIZAM SAQA

The GC University Lahore Dramatics Club on Friday staged Mumtaz Mufti�s magnum opus �Nizam Saqqa� which was indeed a metaphoric chastisement of the political elite who never venture to alter their traditional image of selfish opportunist. �Our leaders don�t have the wish or the vision to raise above their pity personal interests to make invaluable contributions to the welfare of the masses,� this precisely was the message sent out by the legend of Nizam, an ordinary peasant, who was supposedly made king for a day by the Mughal Emperor Hamayun.

The story begins in a village where Nizam was portrayed as straightforward and blunt but kindhearted and a very poor peasant who was busy enjoying her social life while fighting against the economic needs. Hamayun, the 16th century Mughar Emperor, was made to wager life and liberty for the scepter. He lost his kingdom to regain even larger one. In the interim, legend has it, he met Nizam who helped the emperor in very difficult times. Later, In return, Hamayun made Nizam a kind for a day. Nizam, appeared to be innocent man, turns to be an able king even in the short duration afforded him. He is able to convince all and sundry that there is no difference between a pauper and a prince. Nizam, as King, humiliates the entire the government machinery for its apathy towards the masses. His short rain has profound messages for all around him. The character of Nizam tells us that the pivotal thing in society is justice and fair play. In dispensing justice, Nizam eclipses even emperor Hamayun and silently returns to oblivion. The play conveys earnest messages in a light humorous vein. The encounters between Nizam and Hamayun are both witty and insightful.

In the play, the amateur GCU actors successfully managed to outclass the best of thespians in their purposeful portrayal of the royalty and the down-trodden with marvelous finesse. The audience particularly appreciated the club�s choice of script and the befitting musical score performed live by the GCU�s Nazir Ahmed Music Society under the artistic �lan of Mr. Tariq Salman Khan Farani � the ace musicologist and acclaimed flute-player.

Prof. Khalid Masood Siddiqui opined that live accompaniment of Qawali and classical music was the first of its kind in the history of amateur theatre. He showered glowing accolades on the singers and actors who made this performance truly memorable.

Speaking on the occasion, GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Ikram-ul-Haq (Sitara-e-Imtiaz) said that theatre has a worthwhile contribution in social reformation. It is therefore impetrative for university theatre groups to pick up themes which educate as much as entertain. Prof. Ikram believed that GCU Dramatics Club has single handedly nurtured and preserved pristine theatrical activity while it was placed on the back burner in almost all the public sector educational institutions. Commenting on the play, the vice chancellor said that one must take the hint from what Mumtaz Mufti has subtly suggested in �Nizam Saqqa� and rise above one�s vested interests so as to serve humanity at large. He was particularly appreciative of the new adviser GCUDC Mr. Sameer Ahmed who turned his first theatrical production into magnificent success despite all odds.

The cast for the play includes Ghulam Ali Shair, Yumna Malhi, Syed Manan Azhar, Maham Naz, Nayab Faiza, Fatima Tanvir, Wajeeha Nawaz, Azer Khan, Almas Sabeeh, Saad-ul-Hassan, Maryam Darak, Umer and Mudassar Riaz.

(11-04-2011)

List of Office Members

President: Rida Akram Chaudhary

General Secretary: Ghulam Ali Sher

Joint Secretary: Adeel Akmal

Advisor (Acting): Mr. Sameer Ahmed

Patron: Prof. Dr. Ikram Ul Haq

GCUDC set to stage classic masterpiece Nizam Saqqa

The GC University Lahore Dramatics Club is all set to stage Mumtaz Mufti�s classic master piece �Nizam Saqqa� from Friday, April 08 to Sunday, April 10. The play centers on the legend of Nizam, an ordinary peasant, who was supposedly made king for a day by the Mughal Emperor Hamayun. The GCUDC has further embellished the play with live classical music. Musicians from GCU Nazir Ahemd Music Society are providing the score for the play. �Nizam Saqqa� also includes live Qawali & Classical Music session.

Nizam proves to be an able king even in the short duration afforded him. He is able to convince all and sundry that there is no difference between a pauper and a prince. Nizam, as King, humiliates the entire the government machinery for its apathy towards the masses. His short rain has profound messages for all around him. The character of Nizam tells us that the pivotal thing in society is justice and fair play. In dispensing justice, Nizam eclipses even emperor Hamayun and silently returns to oblivion. The play conveys earnest messages in a light humorous vein. The encounters between Nizam and Hamayun are both witty and insightful. The play conveys the message that only thing that can change the world is imagination; the ability to think of a different possibility; to imagine a world better that the one we live in.

The case for the play includes Ghulam Ali Shair, Yumna Malhi, Syed Manan Azhar, Maham Naz, Nayab Faiza, Fatima Tanvir, Wajeeha Nawaz, Azer Khan, Almas Sabeeh, Saad-ul-Hassan, Maryam Darak, Umer and Mudassar Riaz.

(05-04-2011)