In a concerted effort to harness the potential of Pakistan’s youth, an innovative initiative has emerged, focusing on building capacity through the transformative power of theatre. This workshop aims to establish safe and inclusive spaces where participants not only delve into the art of expression but also cultivate confidence, life skills, and the ability to provide critical commentary on societal issues. This article delves deeper into the impact of using theatre as a tool for empowerment and explores the multifaceted benefits it brings to the youth of Pakistan.
In a recent revival of the workshop, facilitators like Waqas Manzoor, Tanzila Khan and Sarmad Aftab got together to lead a workshop for a day at Olomopolo in Lahore, Pakistan.
The workshop brought together a group of 19 individuals with various backgrounds and most of them having previous experience of theatre and performance. They went through a series of exercises where they learned to develop trust among each other, the power of focus and imagination and storytelling. At the end of the workshop, they were divided into two groups where they had to write, rehearse and perform a short skit. Both groups did extremely well with performance and delivery. One group performed a skit about uncomfortable elders who cross boundaries and pry too much into the lives of their neighbors. The other group performed about the discomfort of getting up to pee in the middle of the night. It was refreshing to see a range of human experiences on a broader and also on a personal level. The workshop also explored the idea of Taboo and how it connects the society and the power of community is unmatchable.
In the conclusion of the workshop, many participants pledged continuing their passion for performance and also take their own initiatives while Creative Alley pledged to have more workshops throughout 2024 in collaboration with other partners and collaborating with Olomopolo as their venue partner.
Creative Alley is a non-profit organization that works on building capacity for young people on leadership, SDGs by creating opportunities for inclusion through workshops, projects, and events to bring young people from all walks of life together.
More details: https://creativealley.org/our-story/