'Burqavaganza' hits City theatre

It is the story of young lovers who are determined to defy the hypocritical values of an ultra conservative society. Like all lovers they want to spend time together only to be interrupted and harassed by the moral police and the stick-wielding burqa brigade. The love blooms with the help of popular film songs and under various forms of burqas, while the word outside is falling apart because of the war on terror and a search for Burqa bin Batin. It is a world where lovers are persecuted and terrorists worshipped, where new technology is used to promote outdated and retrogressive ideas.

Before, the play was staged the book’s English translation was launched by Oxford University Press; Ameina Syed, Managing Director OUP said, “The book consists of seven beautifully written plays. Plays as a genre have only recently developed to be performed on stage in Karachi and Lahore and are sticking a poignant note on serious social issues of the city. Burqavaganza was banned in the days of Enlightened Moderation; it is highly ironical.”