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Ajoka Theater (''Ajoka'' means ''Today'') is a Pakistani theater group that was founded by Madeeha Gauhar and Salman Shahid. Ajoka stages society critical performances and has performed in Asia and Europe. In 2006 founder Madeeha Gauhar was honored for her part in Ajoka with a Prince Claus Award from the Netherlands.〔Prince Claus Awards, (award winners of 2006 )〕〔Rashed, Fariha (16 October 2005) (''The Ajoka awakening'' )〕〔Singh Bajeli, Diwan (2 February 2007) (''A voice for peace and amity'' ), The Hindu〕 Ajoka was founded in 1983, at the peak of the tensions during the state of emergency under the regime of General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq. Ever since, the theatre group stages popular society critical pieces in theaters, on the streets and in public spaces, as well as in productions for television and on video. Ajoka does not only perform in Pakistan, but has also done so in other countries in the region, like India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as in Europe.〔Prince Claus Fund, (profile )〕 The style of Ajoka can be characterized as an elaboration on the oral tradition of Bhand and Nautanki that found a flourishing base in the area that currently overlaps the province of Punjab. In spite of the Western education of Gauhar, she does not limit herself to classical Western theatre techniques. Instead, she mixes authentic Pakistani elements, combining it with contemporary sentiments.〔 The most important ulterior motive of the shows is the promotion of a just, humane, secular and equal society. The esthetical, moral, social and political reality of today's Pakistan are therefore repeating elements. Ever returning is the subject of women's rights in a society that is greatly dominated by men.〔〔〔 In 2007 Ajoka performed a piece that was written and directed by Gauhar, called ''Burqavaganza'' (''Burqa-vaganza''), which led to great controversy. Actors dressed in burkas put themes on the stage like sexual discrimination, intolerance and fanaticism. From a Western perspective, the piece was a rather innocent performance on hypocrisy of a society that bathes in corruption. In her own country though, Members of Parliament called for a ban of it, and the Minister of Culture threatened with sanctions when it would be staged any longer. In spite of the ban, non-governmental organizations and women's rights activists had the theatre piece translated into English and staged performances internationally as an sign of support to Ajoka.〔Rehman, Sonya (20 June 2008) (''Viva Ajoka!'' ), Sonya Rehman's Archive ~ Of Most Things Pakistani〕〔Borah, Prabalika M. (4 May 2011) (''Voice beyond LOC'' ), The Hindu〕 == References == 〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Ajoka Theater」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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