LUCKNOW, Nov. 23 -- Governance, corruption, and public apathy took centre stage at Rai Umanath Bali Auditorium as the Theatre Art Workshop staged the play 'Shuturmurg' on Saturday. Directed by Prafulla Tripathi after a 45-day workshop, the performance marked the 91st birth anniversary of theatre veteran Raj Bisaria and transported the audience into the satirical world of Shutur Nagari. The play, written by Gyandev Agnihotri in 1968, uses the kingdom and its king to explore how power often serves personal ambitions rather than the public good, a theme that remains strikingly relevant today. The story follows a king who retreats into imagination when confronted with real crises, while ministers skilled only in flattery and excuses worsen the situation. Opposition leader Virodhlal begins with integrity but slowly falls into corruption, showing how opportunism pervades the corridors of power. Mamliram, representing common citizens, boldly voices the harsh realities outside the palace, delivering a rap that resonates with younger audiences. One of the most powerful scenes shows the queen treating starvation as a spectacle, ordering a dying person to be brought for observation. Public outrage eventually erupts in chants of "Down with the King," a stark reminder of the consequences when leadership prioritises ego and fantasy over responsibility and truth. The cast included Pulkitt Mishra, Kartik Joshi, Tripti Mishra, Mahak Rawat, Puneet Pathak, Mohammad Saad Hasan, Aadya Ghoshal, Manisha Pal, Shanu Tushar, and Raj Verm, bringing the play's satire and symbolism vividly to life....