"Religious Theater Is Intellectual"

The press conference of the 7th International Razavi Theater Festival was held in the presence of Mohammad Khazai, on the 17th of Oct, at the press hall of the city theater.

IRAN THEATER – Explaining about the different sections of the festival, Mohammad Khazai said: "The festival has extended its 4 sections to 12 sections. The new sections are Experimental, Street Theater, Radio Plays, and Photo & Poster."

"One of the important sections of the festival is Drama Production. The festival has always suffered from lack of qualified dramas, but since 3 years ago the best plays have been published. 20 plays have been released by now and 7 plays are in the way to be published this year."

"The festival has been widely welcomed by artists. 960 works have been submitted to the secretariat; 253 in the Stage and Experimental sections, 356 in the Photo & Poster section, 75 in the Traditional Theater & Ta'zie, 31 in the Street section, 65 in the Radio & TV Drama, 66 in the Drama Production, 20 in the Research Section and 77 in the Children & Puppetry section."

"8 troupes from Germany, UK, France, Canada, Azerbaijan, Turkey and Tajikistan had applied for the International section and at the end 2 works from Tajikistan and Azerbaijan entered the festival." He said about the International section. "In order to develop and extend the festival's international scope, first, the Union of the Islamic Theater World should be established."

"Three stage productions will be sent to the foreign countries by The Islamic Culture & Communication Organization." He added.

"The artists who are engaged in the field of religious theater are different from the other artists, they can not create inspired by the imagination. Since this kind of theater is tightly chained to the people's beliefs, artist should study and research, therefore this theater is intellectual."