A veteran stage director ,Actress and translator , Manijeh Mohamedi on Iranian show and the conditions of theater in Iran

Noting that the theater environment today is very different from the past, Mohmedi, a theater instructor and director, spoke about her recent activities in the fields of translation and performance.

 

Referring to her recent activities, Mohamedi said: “These days, I am mostly engaged in theater therapy in America and sometimes I stage works.”

She continued: “In the last two or three years, I have translated three plays, “"Deliberately, romantically, murderously",” and one of my own works from Persian to English. I have also translated a play from English to Persian and written my memoirs.”

 

Referring to the characteristics of the works she translates, the artist stated: “I am not a professional translator; I only translate plays that I am going to direct. Of course, sometimes I stage the play first and then translate it. My personal approach for translation is a great interest in the text. I am interested in themes that express social concerns and have something to say. In fact, I should  connect emotionally with the play, otherwise I cannot translate it and stage it at all.”

 

Stating that working conditions have become very difficult, she said: "I don't know how to get a producer or a movie actor to work. I have a group that I only work with and their presence is very important to me. In fact, I am not very familiar with new policies and issues that are currently popular in theater. I have no budget, nor do I know about advertising, and that is why I think the current space is not my space."

 

The lecturer and theater director continued: "I am not against the presence of famous actors in theater, of course, this presence has harmed theater; because the audience no longer comes to the theater to see show and better understand the issues. They come to the theater to watch their favorite actor on stage. While we work in theater to convey what we know about social, cultural, and other issues, theater will not progress as long as the audience comes to the theater only to see the actor. Many movie actors cannot act; "That's why we've witnessed the decline of theater and the loss of content in this art form."

Emphasizing that today's theater environment is very different from the past, Mohmedi said: "I don't blame the theater groups at all, the economic conditions have become terrible. They have the right to appear in several projects to make a living or to perform with few rehearsals."

At the end ,the artist announced her decision to perform the play "Deliberately, Romantically, Murderously" written by Sanaz Bayan in several American cities.