Iran Theater Progress Owes Late Theater Figure

"Iran theater owes to veteran theater figures notably Rokneddin Khosrawi for its progresses," said Shafiee, adding that he was a student of Mr Khosrawi and master Koupal in a seven-day course held for artists from southeastern province of Khuzestan.

A ceremony to commemorate Rokneddin Khosrawi who passed away in England last year took place at 18:30 at Sangelaj Theater Complex on Saturday, February 24, Iran Theater reported.

Dr Masoud Delkhah one of Khosrawi's students and Farzaneh Neshatkhah were presenters of the ceremony. Delkhah said that he was a member of his theater group as actor for five years and learned what he should learn in acting and direction from the late theater director.

"He does not live with us anymore but his memory will be etched in our mind as his teachings are everlasting and will hopefully be passed on to the next generations," Delkhah said.

Iraj Rad, a member of board of directors of Iran Theater Forum, said that Iran theater undoubtedly owed to Rokneddin Khosrawi as its members did.

He added that the master had trained many students while his rehearsals had been like a class for all actors and actresses who had the chance to work with him.

Theater was his love and life and he had a thorough knowledge of the field, Rad said.

His wife, Simin Khosrawi also thanked Ali Moradkhani, former deputy culture minister for artistic affairs and Shafiee for helping revive memories of half a century ago at Sangelaj Theater Complex where legendary theater actors and actresses such as Jamileh Sheikhi, Jamshid Layegh, Farideh Sadeghi and Jafar Vali played roles. "Although they are not with us anymore (not alive), their shining acts are still with us."

Two music performances by Ebrahim Esbati, a member of music association of Theater Forum and a documentary on the life of late Rokneddin Khosrawi were played.

Actors Association paid tribute to late Khosrawi when he was alive in 2010 in which Akbar Zanjanpour, Roya Teimurian, Behzad Farahani, Seddigh Tarif and Behrouz Baghaei attended.

A graduate of Persian literature from Tehran University, Khosrawi continued academic education in London. He directed several plays in Iran and abroad and educated many theater students.

Khosrawi staged pieces such as 'Shadow Valley Shadow', 'Silence of the Sea', 'Picnic in War Front', 'Endgame', 'Behind Windows', 'Hello & Goodbye' and 'Joan of Arc' before the 1979 Islamic Revolution.    

He directed 'Sizwe Bansi Is Dead' by Harold Athol Lanigan Fugard after the revolution in which Akbar Zanjanpour played an acclaimed role.

Khosrawi immigrated to London in 1981. He taught at Arak Azad University for a short time.

He dedicated 16,000 books to Iran Theater Forum before his death.