Culture Minister: Theater & Street Theater Concern about Reform in Society

Ali Jannati expressed satisfaction about his presence in Marivan, saying that it had repeatedly heard that Iran's supreme leader called Kurdistan a cultural province, irantheater.ir reported. "We know the region as the land of culture, literature and art for a long time."

"Many stars in literature, poetry, culture, dramatic arts, music, visual arts and cinema have come from this land," he said and added that Kurdistan province has dedicated Behrouz Gharibpour and many other cultural and art figures, which are a source of proud for the country, to this nation.

On the art of theater, Jannati said that theater is the ancient art, which human being has become familiar with it.

"Street theater is undoubtedly the first performance of ancient theater," the minister said. "Social theater protest abnormalities of the society with its creativity and precision. The topics of street theater are usually inspired by social realities and problems."

Stressing that street theater would make ordinary people familiar with the culture of theater, Mr Jannati said that this type of theater could bring the message of this art among the people and enjoy the pleasure of watching a theater, its social values and aesthetics.

Street theater could stir enthusiasm among the audience and improve the social culture and common sense, the minister said, adding that street theater had gained importance in recent years and spread to whole country.

On Marivan street theater, he said that the event in Kurdistan province in border and ancient city of Marivan showed that how important the art was for the people of Kurdistan and the city.

Street theater has tremendously improved in recent years both in Iran and abroad in quality and quantity, he said and stressed that would increase the responsibility of organizers of this festival, Dramatic Arts Center and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance towards the street theater.

Mr Jannati urged all state-run and non-governmental bodies to exert more efforts in organizing this international event through strengthening civil and tourist infrastructure of the city away from prejudice and closed approach.

"We should use all the potentials of this festival to send the message of peace and friendship to all cultures, races and religions," the minister said.

Establishing a permanent secretariat for the festival was a wise and reasonable suggestion, which is necessary for improving its quality and quantity, Mr Jannati said, urging the head of Dramatic Arts Center Mehdi Shafiei to go ahead with the plan.

Also, the minister promised to construct six theater stages for the province with the assistance of Kurdistan governor general and the ministry, Mr Jannati said.

Mr Jannati who had visited the provincial city of Sanandaj with his deputies said that many problems and challenges facing the province in the field of culture and art were raised during his travel.

He added that his colleagues travelled different cities in Kurdistan province over the past two days to hear the demands of artists, literary figures, poets and other cultural dignitaries of the province.

The minister hoped that the government could gradually remove the shoratges and could help Kurdistan to develop in cultural and art field.

On the sideline of the ceremony, Mr Jannati watched "War & Party" by Sabzevar Group besides the people in the street.