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An Interview with Ardalan Shoja'-Kaveh, Director of 'Unfinished Game'

A Few Good Plays Do Not Prove Good Condition of Theater

Ardalan Shoja'-Kaveh is a renowned actor. He has started his career in theater as a child actor. He says: "Many humans simply walk pass each other. In this play, it is tried for men to understand fear and compassion more."

Ardalan Shoja'-Kaveh has started acting in theater at the age of six. He holds a bachelor degree in acting from Tehran University's Faculty of Fine Arts. He is a master graduate of theater direction from Tarbiat Modarres University. Ardalan Shoja'-Kaveh's 'Unfinished Game' made Iran Theater to conducte an interview with him about his debut theater direction.

You have a master degree in direction but you have never directed a piece. What made you to direct 'Unfinished Game'?

I started my career in acting when I was a child. I joined cinema when I was young. It has been years that I am involved in acting. It is better to say everybody knows my name (I am renowned). As you said, I hold a degree in direction but I have never had the time to direct. In response to your question on why I have decided to direct this play, I have to say I liked its literature a lot. I was not supposed to direct it in the beginning. My colleagues in the play insisted on my direction. That's why I have been directing it and you see the result on stage.

Now, it has been some days that you have started the performance, how do you evaluate the experience? Do you like to continue direction?

In response to your first question, I have to say when my cast is satisfied with me, I am satisfied too. If you're asking the question as a person who is responsible of the troupe, I should say no. Despite four months of rehearsal and all the energy I put on it, I am not satisfied.  The correct path was that the play would have be performed for the media first and then they would hand over their criticisms to us. Then we could perform for the audience. But this did not happen. We made our first performance for media people and asked them to offer us their criticisms but I liked to see a better result and I do think four months of rehearsal were enough.

On your question about my future direction, I have to say that depends on a team work and I need a permanent group. Unfortunately, we do not have professional producers in theater. Plays are produced by sponsors from outside the field. Theater [in Iran] has always been under pressure and it has managed to survive through love, interest and friendship.  

The theater condition has changed in recent years. We have seen plays which have sold more than one billion tomans. Do you know them?

Yes, you are right. I am happy hearing it. But they are rare cases. Investments made in cinema cannot be seen in theater for sure.  Theater has moved ahead spontaneously. We cannot generalize what is happing for a few good plays and a few theater houses to all the country or even Tehran. Some plays which have sponsors did well. Doe it true for all? Do young talents have such supports? There is not enough security in theater. I am not saying that cinema is well ahead of theater. But I am saying it is doing better under the current circumstances.

Besides theater needs an interested and unified group. Majority of those who are working with me now are from cinema and television. In fact, I am not working with theater people. I do not see myself as a director yet. I am hopeful a teamwork will be established among us and we will keep on working together in theater.




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