KARACHI — The seventh day of the 3rd World Culture Festival 2026, organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi, captivated audiences with a dynamic line-up of theatre performances, musical showcases, and artistic workshops led by international creatives from Norway, Italy, France, and the United States. The day’s schedule also featured screenings of four acclaimed films from Türkiye and France.
The festivities opened with a children’s theatre production, “Gangster Hunting With Daisy Detective,” presented by Norway’s Erler Teaterkompani. A large audience of schoolchildren filled the auditorium, thoroughly enjoying the interactive and energetic performance by the Norwegian troupe.
Interactive Workshops on Physical Comedy and Vocal Mastery
Renowned Italian theatre artist Tom Corradini hosted a specialised workshop on physical comedy and clowning, drawing a wide audience of emerging actors, performers, and members of the public. Through practical exercises, Corradini introduced participants to core physical theatre techniques, emphasising body language, facial expressions, and comic timing. He noted that physical theatre remains a captivating visual art form, citing cartoons as a prime example of movement and gesture in action.
Concurrently, French musician Zakaria Haffar led a vocal technique workshop titled “Vocal”, covering fundamental musical notes, pitch, and rhythm. Expressing deep appreciation for Pakistani musical culture, Haffar illustrated technical nuances using Pakistan’s national anthem, leading an enthusiastic group sing-along that served as a key highlight of the afternoon sessions.
Global Cinema and Thought-Provoking Drama
The cinema segment showcased four short and feature films from Türkiye and France: “Aboveground-Underground”, “Platform 1″, “About My Mom”, and “La Petite École”. The selections explored varied themes, including rural traditions, familial bonds, broader social pressures, and the lived experiences of migrant children.
On stage, American artist Gillian Rhodes presented “The Interview”, a psychological drama detailing a woman auditioning for a mysterious, once-in-a-century position titled “The One”. Unfolding as an interrogation of the self, the protagonist is forced to abandon her professional achievements and confront her suppressed flaws. The production offered an incisive look into ambition, narcissism, jealousy, and the search for authority.
Bridging Traditions Through Sufi-Classical Fusion
The day concluded with “SAMA: UN AUTRE SOUFFLE”, a headline musical performance by French artist Joanna Senem Goodale. Integrating the spiritual depth of Sufi music with the structural richness of Western classical compositions, the performance highlighted the shared heritage of cross-cultural artistic expression.
The 3rd World Culture Festival 2026 continues to serve as an international platform for cross-border creative exchange, collaborative performance, and cultural diplomacy in Karachi.
