Exclusive Report: 35th Fajr Theater Festival

ifilm's exclusive report on the 35th Fajr International Theater Festival, with festival director Mehdi Shafiee, director Manije Mohammadi and actor Mohammad Eskandari.

Below are highlights of the report:

ifilm: We’ve reached to one of the most important and most popular festivals in Iran, the Fajr Theater Festival. Like always during the next ten days, those involved in the theater industry can come and enjoy the plays that go on stage.

Shafiee: The festival has three sections: on-stage, street performances, and “Plus Fajr”.

We have about 140 plays in the stage and street performances section. 57 plays will be taking part in the “Plus-Fajr” section. We’ll have around 200 performances in 10 days in 13 theater halls and three outdoor areas across Tehran.

Performing groups will put their plays on show. We have 19 performing groups from 11 countries worldwide taking part. Everything we do is because we want to keep our people, those interested in culture and arts satisfied with the festival. We also want to celebrate the victory of our revolution with a theater festival.

ifilm: The Fajr International Theater Festival is one of the most important theater festivals in Iran. This year’s plays will be in competition in three sections.

Up until the 24th edition of the festival, the plays were only produced to take part in the festival. During the 24th and 25th edition, the plays were staged for the public before the festival began.

Only very few plays were produced for the festival itself. From the 26th edition, the two were mixed.

Now we have plays that have been staged before the festival begins and plays that are strictly produced for the festival.

Mohammadi: My name is Manije Mohammadi. The play is called ‘Incident at Vichy’, written by Arthur Miller, the American playwright. Arthur Miller wrote the play in 1964. I think this play can still be staged not just today but in the future, too.

Eskandari: My name is Mohammad Eskandari. I’ve been active in the theater industry for about 50 years now. I have the honor to be in this play right now. It’s written by Arthur Miller. I play the part of a prince; an aristocrat that is.

ifilm: The 35th Fajr International Theater Festival is ongoing. Lots of excitement here. All the theater halls are jam-packed for every play and people come and see the plays they’re interested in. The festival will continue till the 31st of January.

AI/AG