Between the 23rd of October and the 14th of December 2025, Theatre Wallay staged 7 performances of its new play Do Dafa Ka Zikr Hai (Twice Upon a Time). Supported by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Islamabad, this original production marked another step in our ongoing journey of taking quality theatre beyond the major cities.
Designed as a travelling show, Do Dafa Ka Zikr Hai is primarily meant for children and young audiences in smaller towns—communities that rarely, if ever, have the opportunity to experience live theatre. In keeping with that spirit, two of the three performances were held in Dina and Chakwal, followed by a final show in Islamabad. The production will continue its journey to Lahore in November.
At the heart of the play lies an original script co-written by my colleague, Safeer Ullah Khan, and me. The story weaves together two beloved folk tales—the South Asian legend of The Giant Who Turned People to Stone and The Crystal Ball by the Brothers Grimm. The two tales intertwine as their heroes embark on a shared quest to defeat evil and restore harmony in their worlds.
The concept for this play was born from a lifelong love of stories. Some of my fondest childhood memories are of my father telling us bedtime stories—tales we must have heard hundreds of times, yet he never grew weary of retelling them. His voice, gestures, and vivid dramatisation brought those stories to life in a way that stayed with me forever. One of my favourites, The Giant Who Turned People to Stone, found new life on stage through this play.
That early love for storytelling soon blossomed into a passion for reading. Discovering the Brothers Grimm opened up an entire world of imagination for me—one where words painted pictures more vivid than reality itself. Later, as a teacher of literature, I had the privilege of sharing that same joy with my students. Over time, this fascination with words evolved into a love of theatre, where stories become something living, breathing, and shared.
In today’s fast-paced world dominated by technology and artificial intelligence, storytelling has become a rare art. Many children now grow up surrounded by ready-made visuals, losing the habit of imagining, visualising, or creating with their own hands. With Do Dafa Ka Zikr Hai, we hoped to rekindle that sense of wonder—to remind young people of the magic of stories told aloud, and of the power of imagination and creation.
True to that vision, every prop and set piece in the play was handcrafted by our talented young artists, Fahad Tariq and Karum Kiyani. Their work reflected not just skill, but a deep connection to the spirit of making and storytelling that the play celebrates.
Through this production, we hope to have sparked—even if in some small way—the joy of listening, imagining, and creating. For children and adults alike, Do Dafa Ka Zikr Hai is an invitation to return to that timeless world where stories are told, hands are busy, and imaginations soar.
