Shakespeare-Iqbal festival attracted thousands
85 viewsBy jazbablog - Mon Apr 26, 7:59 pm
The Shakespeare Birth Place Trust (SBT) together with thousands of people from various countries of the world highly commended performances by the visiting cultural troupe of Pakistani folk artists on the occasion of Shakespeare-Iqbal Festival of World Poetry and Music in this historic English town.
On the conclusion of three day of festivities Sunday, the Shakespeare Trust expressed gratitude and praise for the Pakistani artists who added colour of folk lore of Pakistan to this International Festival this year.
The Director of the Shakespeare Trust, Dr. Diana Owen said that the unveiling of Iqbal’s plaque at Shakespeare Centre and cultural performances by the Pakistani artists have added unique experience to the annual Shakespeare Festival and have established connectivity between Pakistan and Britain in spheres of literature and culture.
On the second and third days of the festival the troupe performed in about dozen sessions at different places where thousands of people were enthralled by the lively folk music of Pakistan.
Though performers and artists from various countries participated in the Festival, Pakistani folk music dominated all other performances. The Pakistani troupe comprising dhol player Saghir Khan, flutist Baqar Abbas, Alghoza nawaz Veeno Mal, Sarangi player Ejaz Sarhadi and vocalists Bushra Marvi, Akhtar Chanal Zehri and Raja Kaasheff remained most popular throughout the festival.
People attended in large numbers the performances by Pakistani artists and danced and sang along on beat of dhol and popular songs by Akhtar Chanal and Bushra Marvi.
The event was organized jointly by Shakespeare’s Birthplace Trust, Pakistan High Commission, Iqbal Academy UK, Iqbal Academy Pakistan and was sponsored by UK-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, United National Bank of Pakistan, PIA and TKC Restaurant London.
The flag of Pakistan was hoisted by the High Commissioner Wajid Shamsul Hasan before the start of procession which marched to Holy Trinity Church to lay wreath at Shakespeare’s grave.
This was for the first time that Pakistan participated in the Festival as a commemorative plaque of poet philosopher of the East Sir Dr. Muhammad Iqbal has been fixed at the Shakespeare’s Birth Place.
As a tradition 20 flags of titles of popular works of Shakespeare are also unfurled on the second day of the Festival by the dignitaries. On this occasion Pakistan High Commission was also represented by Minister Political Muhammad Nafees Zakaria.
High Commissioner along with visiting cultural troupe and officers of the High Commission also attended a reception by the Shakespeare Birth Place Trust at the King Edward VI Grammar School where Shakespeare had studied. At the reception which was attended by about 500 people, Zia Mohiuddin recited poems of Iqbal and Shakespeare.
High Commissioner Hasan presented shields to organizers of the event from Shakespeare Centre and Zarina Wajid Hasan presented awards to the performers.
