Iran’s cultural events in summer season (3)

A large number of theatrical performances have gone on stage in around 130 theaters across Tehran this summer season, hosting the enthusiasts and students of this form of art.

Theatrical shows are one of the most ancient forms of art, maintain an age-old history, and have innumerable enthusiasts, across the globe. Theatrical plays have the strength and ability to recreate the lives, aspirations, and dreams of mankind, on stage, via usage of a number of means and tools such as music, songs, paintings, architecture, literature, and more importantly stage performers.

Theatrical performances maintain an age-old history in Iran, and in addition to traditional theatrical plays such as puppet shows, modern theatrical performances are common in the country, throughout the entire year, with theatrical groups going on stage before large numbers of spectators. Meanwhile, traditional theatrical performances often go on stage in especial occasions. However, the majority of activities of stage performers in Iran, especially in Tehran, revolve round modern theatrical acts.

A review of the theatrical performances which have gone on stage shows that there is a diverse range of stage performances. The plays of contemporary Iranian and foreign playwrights; free interpretations of Iranian and global literature; mystical, philosophical, comical, children-only, and historical plays are the main themes of the theatrical performances which have gone on stage. These performances please the fans, and maintain the revenues of stage acts in Iran.

One of the successful theatrical plays, this summer season, has been Khayyam Puppet Show, which has been authored, designed, and directed by Behrouz Gharib-Pour. In this opera puppet show, the spectators are partly introduced to the renowned poet Khayyam’s life and thoughts, and the positive impact which he left on the Iranians and the international community. The director of this play attaches significant importance on honoring and respecting prominent Iranian poets and literary figures. He adds that it took him a year to pen the text of this opera puppet show, and another year to compose its music.

The group of composers of this work of art is led by Amir Behzad, while Mohammad Mo’tamedi performs as the voice actor, playing the role of Khayyam. As a professional actor and singer, Mo’tamedi performed his role in the shortest possible time and with precision.

Omar Khayyam Nayshapouri, the preeminent Iranian philosopher, mathematician, astronomer, and poet lived in the 11^th Century AD. His collection of quatrains is globally famous.

The director of this theatrical performance points out that in this opera puppet show, different aspects of the thoughts of Khayyam in the waning years of his life have been taken into consideration. According to this director, the difficulty in showcasing this theatrical performance stemmed from the wrong viewpoint toward Khayyam, which mainly emerged after the translation of the collection of his poems by Fitz Gerald.

The fact of the matter is that Khayyam was a Muslim philosopher, who maintained major achievements in the fields of literature and science. He spent his entire life, discovering the unknowns in scientific fields. This opera can change the wrong view which is held toward him.

This theatrical puppet show has twelve stages, in the presence of 150 puppets and dolls. In every stage, different decorations have been displayed. A number of poems of Khayyam are recited in this puppet show in English, French, German, and Kurdish languages.

Another opera named “Wisdom, Love, and Mankind” has been staged in Tehran this summer. This theatrical performance displays human life as of birth until death, within which two elements of wisdom and love draw the attention of mankind in the framework of different characters. In this play, love is displayed in the form of a heavenly, an earthly, and a motherly character. The human character ultimately submits to love and even becomes prepared to let go of his pride and wisdom. However, he is ultimately hanged. This is the main theme of this theatrical play, which has been directed by Amir Dejakaam.

The director of this theatrical performance points out theatrical plays have different forms and shapes across the world. Some are performed with a mediator, while some other ones are directly performed. All of these different types have been redefined in different phases in time. When you encounter all of these arts, you realize that they have been presented with new definitions which are in line with the current world, influencing the spectators with the passage of time.

In another part of his remarks, this director notes that he has previously cooperated with the Symphonic Orchestra. He adds that the “Wisdom, Love, and Mankind” play was a totally different experience for him.
The young Iranian singer, Parvaz Homai, has written and designed this theatrical play; in which local, Lori, Kurdish, and Azeri musical performances can be observed.

The theatrical play “Shams-e Parandeh” is a blend of poetry and music, directed by Pari Saberi, which has gone on stage in Tehran. Pari Saberi is a seasoned director, who has previously directed several other theatrical performances. This theatrical play revolves round the encounter of two well-known poets, Shams and Molana, and has been previously performed three times in the years 2000, 2007, and 2016.

The director of this theatrical play notes that she is taking strides to promote Iranian culture. According to this director, theatrical plays are a collection of dialogs, acts, and music, and these features are clearly evident in “Shams-e Parandeh” theatrical performance.

MR/MG