Speaking to The Express Tribune, comedian Shakeel Siddiqui said the play carries both humour and a deeper message. “The idea behind the title is that everything, including Eid, is in God’s hands. This is a new experience for us we have never explored this subject in theatre before. It’s delicate, but rooted in truth,” he said.
He added that audiences can expect a full dose of entertainment. “People will laugh for two and a half hours, but they will also take something meaningful with them,” Siddiqui noted.
The play, written by UK-based Sabdar Haider, features a strong ensemble cast including Rauf Lala, Aamir Rambo, and Shabbir Bhatti, among others.
Rauf Lala emphasised the family-friendly nature of the production. “We continue the tradition of presenting clean, family-oriented theatre on Eid. There is no vulgarity , this is why people love our work,” he said. Reflecting on Karachi’s resilience, he added, “No matter the circumstances, people here always come out for entertainment. I salute the spirit of Karachiites.”
Director Younus Memon said the play will be staged at an open-air theatre with two daily shows during the three days of Eid. “It is a situational comedybecause without situation, theatre feels incomplete,” he explained.
According to Memon, the story revolves around a household filled with diverse personalities, relationships, and conflicts, blending humour with social commentary. “It’s ultimately a family story with a message, wrapped in entertainment,” he said.
With its mix of veteran performers, new faces, and a promise of laughter, Meri Eid Tere Hawale aims to be one of Karachi’s key theatrical attractions this festive season.
It continued with impactful performances. Kuwait’s LAPA Dance Company presented a powerful contemporary dance piece titled “Where Words Die”, dedicated to the memory of Palestinian journalists martyred in Gaza. The performance was choreographed by Dr Tina, with dancers Rawan Sameer Salamah (Palestine), Christine Nikitha, Chathura Navodya (Sri Lanka), Bader Mustafa Dalal Abdullah (Kuwait), and Fatemeh Neghdar (Iran).
Through expressive movement, the performers highlighted the grave crime of targeting journalists in Gaza, where more than 200 media workers were killed for exposing the truth. The performance touched themes of struggle, injustice, and the horrors of war, earning a standing ovation from the audience. Addressing the audience, Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah praised the performance, saying LAPA had presented a remarkable narrative.
He acknowledged Fareah Al Saqqaf and her team for uniting artists from diverse nations and promoting the arts globally. He added, “The children of our community are the identity of Lyari. The ideal society we envision is reflected here through the World Culture Festival.” LAPA Dance Company’s head, Fareah Al Saqqaf, expressed gratitude for the love received in Pakistan and said she was honored to present the story of Palestinian journalists through art. Earlier in the day, the festival opened with a Fine Art Workshop conducted by Iranian artist M. Reza Ferdowsi Fard, who delivered a special lecture on the fundamentals of Islamic calligraphy.
He emphasized that “the purity of script comes from the purity of the heart,” explaining that the art of calligraphy begins with the dot beneath the letter “?”, the symbolic essence of “Bismillah.”He noted that the first letter in calligraphy is always “?,” corresponding to the first letter in the name of Allah. The festival also screened the Pakistani film “Na Maloom Afraad”, directed by Nabeel Qureshi and written by Fizza Ali Meerza.
Set in Karachi, the dark comedy reflects the city’s chaos, economic pressures, and social disparities. It follows three ordinary men whose desperate struggles lead to unintentional and humorous misadventures. Karachi’s strikes, unrest, and unpredictability become the film’s symbolic “fourth character.”