Message of Director Dramatic Arts Center to the 19th Int’l Children & Young Adults Theater Festival

The full message of Ashena follows, according to Iran Theater website:
“The children theater is not old in Iran despite the country’s long history of literature and art. The weakness, however, has been made up with [significant] stories, narrations, idioms and myths.
The children world is definitely different with that off grown-ups. That’s why the production of children and young adults theater needs focusing on form and art elements and the choice of art method and language. Artists must employ proper language for creation of situation, narration of events and description of characters. They must employ a language and method, which is full of hope and lust for life. It is not enough to talk about children but the passion for life must be felt on the stage.
Using terms that are understandable for children is a must, a language which is blended with beauty, simplicity and images that can be etched in the soul and conscience of children forever.
The high art of theater can help better develop innocent soul of children with its beautify and perfection, paving the ground for purification and refinement, which have priority to education. Therefore, theater must awaken happiness and felicity in the heart of children and show them the realities of life. It must teach them respect for the universe, show them the power of knowledge, guide them towards realities, the realities which never die and eliminate the fear of incapability and inferiority in their heart.
The rich Islamic-Iranian culture makes us to benefit from teachings of our religious and literary sources and folkloric culture. This huge treasure is passed on to us through centuries through songs that are song by our mothers in a beautiful and everlasting language.
I wish success for all artists from Iran and abroad as well as my esteemed colleagues in Tehran.
Ghader Ashena”