RAFI
PEERRAFI
PEERBACKGROUND
The Background of the company, stretching our over more than 20 years can be seperated as follows...
Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop is the oldest performing arts company in Pakistan. It was founded by Rafi Peerzada in 1974 as the Pakistan Drama Markaz for the progress and development of performing arts. In 1974 it was renamed Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop.
Since the past 22 years the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop has produced considerable amount of serious pioneering work for the progress of dramatic arts. The Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop is registered as an NGO with the Social Welfare Department Lahore R. No. DDSW-LD-94-721, SR. NO. 1408.
Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop is run by five working professionals; Faizaan Peerzada, Usman Peerzada, Sadaan Peerzada, Imran Peerzada and Salmaan Peerzada and managed by a highly efficient full time staff with all the necessary office equipment. The funding is generated through the work the company produces.
At the time of its creation in 1974 the aims and objectives of the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop were evolved after careful consideration.
It was clearly established that the theatre workshop would serve the community and society through the means of performing arts and providing meaningful entertainment by using the potential of performing arts to it’s fullest to achieve it’s declared objectives through direct mass communication.
From a company that started on a shoe-string budget the workshop has now grown into one of the most active entertainment bodies in the private sector. It offers both a platform for artistic activities as well as engaging in many itself. That it is now an internationally recognized organization has only come about due to the hard work of it`s directors throughout the last twenty years.
Besides having staged three international puppet festivals, one international theatre festival and one national dance festival, the workshop has produced numerous plays, held numerous workshops & lectures on the issues facing performing arts and has been a host to numerous international performers.
The workshop has also been responsible in bringing many international performers to Pakistan. In this way it has brought to the Pakistani public such renkowned performers as Gary Bond, Marylyn Heathcock and Michael McEvoy.
It has also been involved in a nationwide road show, taking women awareness programmes to the hinterland and staging plays in the remote interior of the country.
For a list of the major productions performed, organized or directed by the directors of the Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop click here.