With the new year already here, it seems everyone is pondering over self-improvement. I recently went to see a theater play ‘Girah‘ and safe to say, it really served as an insight and inspiration.
While we often aim big with promotions and weight loss goals, have we ever considered looking inwards? We often neglect things that end up becoming fuel for mental health problems.
One such little thing is guilt, and that was the central theme in The Curtain Raiser’s production ‘Girah‘. The thriller play was presented in Islamabad in collaboration with Theatre Wallay. Yes, the same Theatre Wallay that gave us thought-provoking theater dramas like ‘Zard Paton Ka Ban‘ and ‘Dagh Dagh Ujala‘.
We take a look at Girah, and how it did with this acclaimed theater group’s help and The Curtain Raiser‘s own fresh ideas.
Girah – A Guilty Pleasure
This thriller play is set in a mental asylum. The story then simultaneously follows the story of six patients and the guilt that drove them mad. Reasons for their madness include not doing enough, and doing too much. From listening and being deceived, to not listening at all.
Each patient had their own issues and it seemed like there really was no winning. Eventually, all the patients end up influencing one another through their different patterns. Chaos ultimately follows.
The performers flip the lid and address the audience. Was the audience the real culprit with their ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ attitude? The play addresses our own unwillingness to push for resolution and reform in society. Perhaps this is why life has become a tragedy and why folks end up in a mental asylum.
The highlight of the play was definitely the acting. The actors lulled the audience with their performance. And then they called them out over it.
More About The Curtain Raiser
The Curtain Raiser is an emerging theatre group from Islamabad. Despite being an independent venture, the theater troupe has a number of awards to their name.
In fact ‘Girah‘ is one such multi-award winning and nationally acclaimed theater play. Recently the play bagged awards for ‘Best Play‘ and ‘Best Script‘ at the All Pakistan Performing Arts Festival at GIKI.
The play’s director Ali Farooqi was handed the ‘Best Director‘ award at the same competition. The director Ali Farooqi essays ‘Patient No 1’ in Girah.
Girah‘s writer Imran Khan has many accolades as well. He penned plays on a variety of subjects. His works include Saanjh, Mein Haan Waaris, Sarisht, etc.
We can’t wait to see where they go from here.
Nice Team