KARACHI: A Pakistani art school on Friday launched the first ever Urdu version of ‘Romeo and Juliet,’ a 1597 tragedy by William Shakespeare, that the directors described as a “treat” for the Pakistani fans of the iconic English playwright.
The poetic tragedy written by Shakespeare early in his career is about two young Italian lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It has inspired numerous films and been staged in theaters the world over.
Translated by Khalid Ahmed and directed by legendary Pakistani actor and TV broadcaster Zia Mohyeddin, this is the first time that the play is being staged in Urdu language by the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) in Karachi, Assistant Director Uzma Sabeen said.
“It’s a treat for the Pakistani fans of Shakespeare, a greatest playwright of all times,” Sabeen told Arab News. “The play hasn’t been localized, it’s not an adaptation but translated to keep it original.”
