Latest news with #JohnPatrickShanley
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Urdu version of lauded play comes to capital
The Chand Nagar Cultural Centre is proud to announce the first-ever Pakistani adaptation of a Pulitzer Prize-winning stage play, "Doubt: A Parable", which is being performed on July 26 and 27 at the Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai Auditorium in Islamabad. This production is the Urdu translation of the play by John Patrick Shanley, translated by the director and theatre educator Imran Iftikhar and Adil Yousaf. Iftikhar expressed his excitement and gratitude, for being granted permission to adapt and stage this masterpiece. "I'm sharing this news with immense pride and gratitude that I've been formally granted permission by John Patrick Shanley — the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and Academy Award-winning screenwriter — to translate, adapt and stage his masterpiece theatre play, Doubt: A Parable, for the Islamabad audience in Urdu," he shared. The play, "Doubt: A Parable", was written by American playwright John Patrick Shanley in 2004. It was adapted into a mystery thriller film titled "Doubt" in 2008, starring Hollywood's renowned actress Meryl Streep. The film received critical acclaim and showcased the powerful story and themes of the play. "Doubt: A Parable" explores the complexities of human nature, delving into themes of faith, doubt, power and morality. Set in a small-town school in Punjab, the play raises questions about truth, silence and the grey areas in between. With its suspenseful plot and impactful characters, this production promises to be a thought-provoking experience for the audience. Imran Iftikhar further added, "This is not just a milestone for me as a director and translator but a historic moment for Pakistani theatre. To my knowledge, this is the first time a Pulitzer Prize-winning play is being officially produced in Pakistan. Bringing this globally acclaimed work to our local stage is a huge responsibility — and an opportunity to elevate the standards of theatre productions in the region." He hopes that "this production will open new doors for international theatre in Pakistan and spark critical conversations about ethics, education and truth." Chand Nagar Cultural Centre is dedicated to telling bold, thought-provoking, and relevant stories through theatre and arts in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. The play is translated into Urdu by Adil Yousaf, directed by Imran Iftikhar and features a cast of young theatre actors from the twin cities. "Doubt: A Parable" is being brought to life by Chand Nagar Cultural Centre, with the aim of creating a platform for meaningful storytelling and cultural exchange.
RTÉ News
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Four Letters of Love is tourism bosses' dream movie
When the country was up in arms again, this time over Wild Mountain Thyme, the film's Irish-American writer-director, John Patrick Shanley, delivered the perfect response. Shanley told Variety that when he first talked to Emily Blunt about starring in the rom-com, he explained: "I'm not making this movie for the Irish. If you try to get the Irish to love you, no good will come of it. I'm making this movie for everybody else and all the people who want to go to Ireland." The same logic can be applied to Four Letters of Love, another film to make tourism bosses feel like all their St Patrick's Days have come at once. Based on Niall Williams' bestseller and adapted by the author himself, the romantic drama stocks up on screen talent and piles on the siúcra as love finds a way. It's about an artist (Pierce Brosnan), his son (Fionn O'Shea), a painting, and on an island on the other side of Ireland, a poet (Gabriel Byrne), his wife (Helena Bonham Carter), and their daughter (Ann Skelly). What brings them all together? Well, if "There's no such thing as chance. This was how it was meant to be", tugs at your heartstrings, then you'll be all-in to see magic realism do its thing here. Once again, the oul place (Donegal and Antrim) looks beautiful - so much so that plenty who'll watch this movie on a plane will ask the cabin crew if it's possible to change course. Away from the green begets green of that tourism angle, locals will discover that the accent carvery does a roaring trade here. Brosnan goes a-roving before finding a spot to call home, and the people on the island out wesht are from all over the shop, but Helen Bonham Carter makes a far better fist of a brogue than many would imagine. It's a cosy film, and, as one of its characters would no doubt muse, sure, there's room for that too. Don't be surprised if you've next summer's holiday decided by the closing credits.
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Doubt comes to Bengaluru, courtesy Poochu's Productions
Have you ever been beset by uncertainty over what you have always known to be true? Doubt written by John Patrick Shanley in 2004, puts human relationships and emotions under an unforgiving microscope, and this weekend, Chennai-based Poochu's Productions brings this play to Bengaluru. Set in Chicago in 1964, Doubt is centred around accusations of an inappropriate relationship between a Catholic priest and a child. Denver Anthony Nicholas, who has directed this adaptation, says the reason this play was chosen was, 'the way it allowed the audience to make their own decision.' He adds that Doubt does not tell you who is right or wrong, 'it just leaves you in the grey area of assumptions and accusations.' 'What makes Doubt different is that it not only brings about the awareness of an issue, but also an awareness of the people involved.' Denver elaborates how the mother of the child in the play ponders if the priest is at fault or 'if it was in her son's nature'. It is an interesting, insightful take on human behaviour and perception, says the director. Though there are layers to the script crafted around the Civil Rights Era, Denver says it is the mother's observation that cemented the choice of play for him and lead actor Karthik TM. The duo, who pored over scores of scripts, decided against an Indian adaptation or contextualisation of Doubt when they finally settled on it. With Doubt set in a certain time period, other iterations of this play have seen adaptations of Indian characters to fit the narrative. 'This was something I didn't want to do because I believe 99 out of 100 theatre-goers are sensible people who will understand the setting in which the script was penned,' says Denver. And even though Doubt is positioned in the context of a Catholic setup, the questions it throws up are applicable to any human circumstance and situation. 'It makes you doubt everything about human relationships,' he adds. 'Doubt requires more courage than conviction does, and more energy; because conviction is a resting place and doubt is infinite,' reads the preface to Doubt by playwright John Patrick Shanley and sets the tone for the play which runs for 90 minutes. The play is tightly knit with performances by Deepa Nambiar as Sister Aloysius, Father Flynn played by TM Karthik, Abinaya Ravindranathan as Sister James and Dakshana Rajaram as Mrs Muller. Doubt by Poochu's Productions will be staged at Ranga Shankara on May 18 at 3.30pm and 7.30pm. Open to those aged 16 and above. Tickets on BookMyShow.
