Pakistan, April 15 -- Not so many years ago, theatres in Punjab were renowned for their rich narrative and courage with words that spoke truth, however painful. Now, these klieg lights flash intermittently, haunting aficionados with their faint shadows.

Once a euphoric chorus ringing through filled halls, the humour now seems interrupted by the jarring shuffle of disquiet, the hasty cough attempting to cover up obscenity creeping onto the stage. It was a shock, a betrayal, a blow to the very spirit of our cultural heritage, for all of us who grew up under the magic of the proscenium arch: Amanullah's incisive wit, Rafi Khawar (Nanha)'s poignant storytelling, the sheer theatre wizardry of performers like Sohail Ahmed. It was a loss to the...