Multi-Character Pieces Are Difficult

Tino Salehi has been both a director and instructor in Free Acting Workshop Institute, which is run by noted actor Amin Tarokh. He holds master degree in theater direction from Art and Architecture University.

His pieces as director or actor include “Yaftabad”, “Shakheh Nabat”, “33”, “Antigone” “Kiarash”, “Phetros”, “Toranj”, “Song of Flute”, “Khordad”, “Mokhtarnameh”, “Land of Humans”, “Rice”, “A Journey to Oraman”, and etc. He has received awards from Traditional/Ritual Theater Festival and Fadjr International Theater Festival for “MM and Zin Salehi” and “Woo”, respectively.

He had been assistant of renowned directors such as Dr Qotbeddin Sadeghi and Amir Dejakam.

The piece tells the story of a city stricken with plague. People are facing problems. Plague is the symbol of a city that is fallen. “Curfew” is on stage in Samandarian auditorium of Iranshahr Theater. Alireza Mehran, Pejman Jamshidi, Nazanin Karimi, Houman Soltani, Hossein Shafiei, Saman Karami, Sina Nasrollahi, Najla Nazarian, Saharnaz Oftadeh, Mina Golpayegani, Parisa Rouzbehani, Arghavan Rasti play in the piece. Hossein Ardestani executes the plan, Mehdi Ashena the photographer, Hossein Dirdar planner, Amir Najafi assistant director, Hossein Khodarahmi the poster and graphic designer, Fariba Jadidi the public relations and virtual advertisement, Shahrashoub Meftahi the coordinator and Baran Sibi the secretary.

The interview with Tino Salehi is about his piece and the influence of “The Plague” by Albert Camus on him.  

 

Have you been inspired by the crisis plaguing the neighboring countries when you mulled over staging “Curfew”?

I had read “Curfew” in the past and did not want to perform it. But the socio/political condition in the neighboring countries of Iran made me to feel responsible toward the catastrophe and crisis toward them, especially that some of the victims have spoken the same mother language I speak. I refer to the formation of a plague called Daesh. They are a group formed in line with colonialism. One of my friends suggested me to perform the piece based on curfew. I doubted it in the beginning but we concluded that we can start an updated version of the Camus' piece.  

 

It seems you are interested in directing a multi-character piece, aren't you?

Majority of my past pieces have lots of characters. Performing such pieces is difficult. But the collective physical pieces are important for me. In other word, I see the nature of theater as collective art. That is why I am willing to direct pieces with lots of characters. Working with lots of actors would double the challenges, making the picture making and set designing difficult. The director has also be vigilant about how characters are made.

 

Why do you show the people as passive and neutral in the piece?

Majority of common people are like this everywhere in the world. That is why the populist policies can fool them. Of course, this is not bad.

 

Are they fooled because of their ignorance?

That is. Also some policies do not let them get aware. The populist policies try to intimidate them with empty slogans, colorful campaigns and lies. Such policies can be seen in the advanced countries.