Joint Media & Theater Bodies Necessary

We are accustomed to political officials from neighboring countries or region visiting our country. All media debates revolve around political crisis, reaching a solution for elimination of violence and ways to fight war and crisis. Now, regardless of all the political and military crisis, our country is hosting a group of officials from other countries to talk about theater. We should believe there are ways other than political and military solutions to the human crisis.

I do not regard art only a medium. If the art is not contributing to the world peace, human unity and spread of friendship and compassion, it was used in an irresponsible way. We, as a nation with several thousand years of history, have words to say in the cultural field. Although modern theater does not have a history of more than one hundred year, performing arts have had a long record in Iran.

It is better the opportunity of dialogue among the government will turn into the dialogue among nations. The neighboring and regional countries will undoubtedly be satisfied of being informed of Iran’s development of dramatic arts. We are not aware of their progresses in the field yet. The lights of relationships are turned off in this regard.

We wish Iran to help establish an international theater news agency to exchange theater news and experiences of the countries. I insist an international theater agency is needed to establish closer cultural relationships, at first with countries which speak the same language of us, then Islamic countries and later with countries, which are connected with us through several thousand years of culture.

Iran’s Dramatic Arts Center must also establish Theater Communication Organization of Islamic countries to turn the Islamic Republic as a bridge between these nations. The immediate targets include;

1. To get aware of quality and quantity of theater activities in the region and Islamic countries
2. Exchanging theater films among the member states of Theater Communication Organization
3. Exchanging theatrical troupes between the member states and having organized trips and programs

The joint theater production should not be ignored. Theater is a global language. It should not be regarded that it is a dialogue-based art. The forms and gestures are understandable in any language and culture. Also, the advances in technology has made possible the simultaneous translation of any plays on a screen.

1. Exchanging plays and their translation among countries as well as publishing plays and theater researchers

Long-term targets:

1. Attracting the nations of member states of Theater Communication Organization to performing culture of each other
2. Admitting that theater can serve as messenger of peace and unity among nations and tribes
3. Establishing theater activities office inside the embassy of each country besides other cultural affairs
4. Investing in establishment of international theater venues in member states of Theater Communication Organization
5. Setting up a non-governmental international fund to support theater of the nations

Iran theater, which has made progresses over the past decades, must take effective steps in this regard. It should not be forgotten that such targets must not be achieved exclusively through state channels. The path can be clear with the assistance from non-governmental cultural organizations.