The Imam Reza cultural and artistic festival of Imam Reza press conference: Exporting religious and Iranian theater to other countries

The press conference of the performing arts section of the 21st Imam Reza (AS) international cultural and artistic festival was held on the morning of Monday, Feb. 4 at the City Theater of Tehran, Iran Theater reported.

 

At the beginning, the posters of the 17th Razavi National Theater Festival, the 14th Razavi National Children and Youth Theater Festival and the 3rd Razavi National Street Theater Festival were unveiled with designs by Hojjat Mojarad.

The Imam Reza Festival internationalization strategy

 

Kazem Nazari, Director General of Dramatic Arts, said in this ceremony: "I hope this festival will introduce Razavi culture to the audience in a more effective and rich way. Imam Reza (AS) is respected by all Iranians. This kind Imam has dignity and manners that artists can present in the best way."

 

He went on to say: "We hope that the possibility of holding the international section of this festival with the presence of artists from Muslim and neighboring countries will be provided soon, and of course other nations of the world will be able to display their works in this section."

Festival expenses will be spent on theater production

 

Atabek Naderi, the artistic director of the Razavi Theater Festival, said about this event: "We tried to keep the artists away from the atmosphere of excitement and prize-winning and competition during this edition . Because this kind of look is temporary and superficial.

 

He added: "We work theater for the sake of theater and presenting to people. In the old methods, there are budgets that are provided in the name of theater but are spent elsewhere, but in this festival, we tried to put the expenses for the productions. Therefore, the quality of the works will be taken into consideration and somehow the money of Imam Reza (AS) will reach the hands of the artist. "

The need to mainstreaming of Razavi theater

 

This director emphasized the necessity of the mainstreaming of Razavi theater: "We defined a different view to have contents free from stereotypes such as vows and prayers in Razavi theater. Any work that is produced based on our religious beliefs and human ethics, self-belief and healthy life which was the message of Imams, will be Razavi's works.

 

Naderi continued: "In the international section, exporting religious and Iranian theater is a bigger achievement, that's why we are trying to invite foreign theater groups to perform in this event, regardless of conventional stereotypes. We also want to provide the conditions and hold consultations, and we hope that the popular works of the festival will be performed in Muslim and neighboring countries."

 

World ranking of Razavi theater

 

  Ali Mohammad Radmanesh, the artistic director of Razavi Theater Street Festival, explained: "Street theater is a part of a large outdoor theater event, and what is intended here is certainly a form of events that are related to our religion and culture; A culture that is derived from the political, philosophical, historical and cultural personality of Imam Reza."

 

The artist continued: "What is important is the idea of street theater, that this idea is the concern of the audience. Theater deals with human moral virtues and the most important texts in the world have been written about it. From this point of view, Razavi Theater is not far from being seen by the world."

 

Thematic diversity in Razavi's shows

 

Seyed Javad Refahi, strategic advisor to the CEO of Imam Reza Foundation (AS) also said during the meeting: "Last year, we came to the conclusion that people do not benefit from festivals and these events are held within groups. That's why we tried to pay the artists themselves to perform in their province."

 

Saeed Zamani, Vice President of Imam Reza (AS) Foundation's promotion and distribution, said: "Today, the Razavi Dramatic Arts Festival has reached an acceptable level in terms of the audience and public interest, as well as the quality of the works."

He continued: "We removed the subjects of domes and garlands, vows, and healing, and we pay serious attention to the moral and social life of Imam Reza (a.s.)."