Cooperation Must Start by Ministers to Reach Artists

Mohammad Hossein Naserbakht, author, director, actor, Ta'zieh writer and researcher of theater, described as positive the first meeting of the directors of performing arts of West Asian countries in Tehran.

He told irantheater.ir that given the numerous woes facing the world and the soil of discord and ward seeded across the globe, any such meetings could be useful.

"Anything that narrow the gaps between countries and bring them closer together is a positive and good move and must be welcomed," Mr Naserbakht said. "Such gatherings make them to set aside discords and increase solidarity in the region because of they can talk each other with the language of art and culture."    

He stressed that Asian and regional countries have lots of common points with Iran and such meetings could help reach understandings that improve art, especially theater in the region.

There are commonalities between Iran theater and its neighboring countries not to mention that theater in the Islamic Republic had been even under influence of the geographically-distant countries too, the director said.

The researcher of theater said that the gathering could effectively introduce Iran culture and give the participants a real insight of the country's theater. "Such gatherings could help countries to exchange culture more and in a better way, introduce our market to them and those of them to us and have access to each other's' cultural commodities."

Tehran will host directors of performing arts of Western Asian countries from October 30 to November 1.

Theater officials and dignitaries from countries such as Algeria, Oman, Iraq, Tunisia, Afghanistan, Lebanon, Azerbaijan Republic, Pakistan, Syria and Qatar are Iran’s guests during the three-day gathering, irantheater.ir reported.

Iran will introduce its international theater festivals to the participants. Marzieh Boroumand, Davoud Fathalibeigi, Shahram Karami, Seyyed Fateh Badparva and Saeed Asaid will introduce puppet, ritual/traditional, children and young adults, Marivan street and Fadjr festivals to the delegations from West Asian countries.

Directors of Iran theater centers and bodies including Theater House, Art Center, Academic Theater, Tehran Municipality’s Art and Culture Organization will meet the delegations too.