» Founded in 1984 by Madeeha Gauhar during the turbulent era of General Zia-ul-Haq’s regime, Ajoka Theatre has been a beacon of social change and artistic excellence in Pakistan. Based in Lahore, this not-for-profit arts organization has produced and performed powerful social theatrical productions for four decades. Ajoka Theatre has garnered international acclaim, including the prestigious Prince Claus Award in 2006 and the International Theatre Pasta Award in 2007.
In this session, Shahid Nadeem will reflect on Ajoka Theatre’s remarkable journey, its impact on society, and its contributions to the arts.
● About the Speaker:
» Shahid Nadeem is Pakistan’s leading playwright and director, currently serving as the Executive Director of Ajoka Theatre. With a prolific career in television, he has held key positions at Pakistan Television as a producer, General Manager, Director Programmes, and Deputy Managing Director.
Nadeem’s literary contributions are noteworthy; Oxford University Press published a selection of his English translations in 2008, and several collections of his plays have been published in both Pakistan and India. His acclaimed play “Dara” was produced by the National Theatre in London in 2015. Nadeem’s telefilm “An Act of Terror” was nominated for a Scottish BAFTA in 2009, and he wrote the critically acclaimed film “Manto” along with many popular TV serials such as “Janjaalpura”, “Neelay Hath”, “Zard Dopehar”, “Uraan”, and “Airport”.
His international recognition includes being a Getty Institute’s International Scholar, International PEN Visiting International Writer in Los Angeles, and a Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy in Washington. In 2023, Nadeem delivered the keynote address at the 36th World Theatre Congress organized by UNESCO and was the writer of the World Theatre Day message for the International Theatre Institute in 2020, making him the only South Asian writer to receive these honors.
Beyond the arts, Nadeem has been associated with Amnesty International as a Campaign Coordinator and Communications Officer at its International Secretariat in London and its Communications Office in Hong Kong. In recognition of his contributions to the arts, he was conferred the President of Pakistan’s Award for Pride of Performance in 2009.
Academically, Nadeem has been a Professor and Head of the Film and TV Program at the Institute for Art and Culture in Lahore and currently teaches dramatic writing at Ajoka Institute. He has also been a member of the Board of Governors of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts and Lahore Arts Council.