The first steps as an actor

His first interest in acting may have started from the story of the parrot and the merchant, from elementary school. He didn't even know that with those colored ribbons and going under the teacher's desk, which was prohibited during that period, he had met the first theatrical standards.

 

How did you get to know the theater for the first time?

I was not familiar with theater in the western sense. But maybe when I was 5 or 6 years old, I saw a Ta'ziyeh show, and the behaviors, singing, and colors of the clothes of the enemies and saints of God were strange to me. Maybe this was the first time I saw a performance. After that, in elementary school, our teacher told everyone who is interested to perform theater. An idea came to my mind. My mother used to record the songs before the call to prayer, which were without instruments. Among these songs was the story "Parrot and Merchant". That day after returning home, I told my mother that I wanted to do a play. I don't remember which of us had the idea, but she pinned two green and red ribbon-like strips on my dress and I became a parrot! It was a strange idea and later when I went to college, I realized how theatrical  and attractive this idea was; Especially when I saw photos of Peter Brook's " Conference of the Birds" performance, I realized this more.

 

- What had influenced you, was this Ta'ziyeh?

maybe But at that time, I was going to Kanoon and had seen the works of Noureddin Zarrinkelk with some other animations. I read children's books. Maybe being in these spaces also helped me become a theater artist. Then we moved to Mashhad City in 80’s.

- Did you follow theater work in Mashhad?

When I was in middle school, I had no idea about the show, but I was interested in the story. Our beloved teacher, Mr. Ghafourian, encouraged us to read a lot, and I had a good classmate who we used to exchange books with. In those years, Amir Naderi's movie "Runner" had a short time release in Mashhad and I saw it. I had seen his " Harmonica" before. I wrote something about "The Runner" and I read it in Mr. Ghafourian's essay class, and he said that this essay, apart from its quality, is a film review. In middle school, I was more involved in the field of literature, especially poetry.

- Did you also work in theater during  theschool of art?

yes I had a friend named Siamak Salari who I found out had worked in the theater during middle school and we were in contact with each other, but it was as if I had no idea about theater at that point and I had forgotten my elementary school experience. One day I went to his house and his mother said that some people are doing theater in the mosque. I went and saw that they were rehearsing a play that was written by Mr. Vazifeh- Doust, who was only 2 years older than us, He had charisma and a good mood that he could direct. I arrived at the beginning of their practice and it was as if they were waiting for someone who was late. The usual story happened and it was decided that I would play until that actor arrived. I said that I don't know, but they insisted. They gave me a sheet and I started reading. Suddenly I felt a terrible silence. He said tell that actor not to come again and asked me to play instead of him, I repeated that I don't know we participated in student festivals and Fadjr student festivals and performed it in the mosque. I was 16, 17 years old and I played the role of an old sweeper. In the next two or three years, we worked in several shows and participated in student festivals. This is why I decided to study dramatic literature in college, which would satisfy my literary taste and be in the field of theater.

But you studied directing.

After I went to university, I was provided with so many acting opportunities that I did not study dramatic literature and studied directing, but I acted more and directed less.

Were you a student when you were working on " Les Misérables"?

At the same time when I was working on my university thesis, we were rehearsing and performing " Les Misérables", in 1997.

- Did you know Hassan Majouni before college?

Before the college, when I was coming from Mashhad to Tehran and to the house of Azhdari brothers, Mr. Majjuni had a room in the same building, and we got to know each other from that time during 90’s.