Imran Iftikhar is a theatre artist, director, teacher and writer with over a decade of experience. He is the Founder and Artistic Director of Chaand Nagar Theatre, a Rawalpindi-based company dedicated to socially relevant, high-quality storytelling for the stage.

Over the years Imran has worked on a number of theatre projects that were performed in Pakistan and abroad. In 2017 he co-wrote and performed in On Common Ground, a powerful play about identity and displacement that toured the West Coast of the United States, including performances at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and Artists Repertory Theatre in Portland. In Pakistan, he has performed in numerous productions across major cities, earning recognition for his thoughtful and nuanced portrayals.

One of his most notable directorial ventures is Marhoom Ki Yaad Mein, an original stage adaptation of three short stories by literary icon Patras Bukhari. Blending satire, nostalgia, and social commentary, the production was lauded for bringing Urdu literature to life on stage in fresh and compelling ways.

Imran holds an MFA in Creative Writing from The New School in New York, where he honed his skills as a storyteller across mediums. His creative practice is shaped by a deep commitment to representation, language, and the transformative power of performance. In addition to theatre, he has written short stories, a children’s book titled The Adventures of Coco and Mano, and is currently working on a novel series based on the legend of Ameer Hamza.

With Chaand Nagar Theatre, Imran has created a space for meaningful artistic exploration in Islamabad and Rawalpindi—cities long underserved when it comes to contemporary theatre. Under his leadership, the company staged Waswasa: Aik Kahani, the first Urdu adaptation of John Patrick Shanley’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Doubt: A Parable, performed in July 2025 to packed audiences and critical acclaim.

Imran continues to write, teach, and collaborate, believing deeply in the power of storytelling to shape culture, challenge assumptions, and build community.