An Interview with Zohreh Behrouzinia, Director of Hallaj:
Hallaj Is about Iran Culture
Zohreh Behrouzinia is one of the leading theater figure of combining live theater with puppets in Iran. She has directed some effective plays. “Hallaj Said You Will See Today and Tomorrow and the Day After Tomorrow” is an attractive narration on different conditions now.
The show tells the story of a woman who narrates tale of the hanging of Hallaj, a Persian mystic. She sees all followers and enemies of Hallaj in her imagination and pictures what was happened for Hallaj for the audience. There is a character named History among the characters, which trying to prove itself through repetition. Hallaj was sentenced to death because of his beliefs. Spectators do not see history of poetry in “Hallaj Said You Will See Today and Tomorrow and the Day After Tomorrow” although they see both. There is no sign of Hallaj in the piece but the imagination of a lonely woman who is imagining her husband Hallaj and the kids she could have with his imprisoned husband.
A graduate of puppet theater from Cinema & Theater Faculty in 2000, Zohreh Behrouzinia holds a master degree in theater direction from Tarbiat Modarres (Instructor Trainin) University in 2004. She was secretary of 4th International Student Puppet Festival in 2000, executive secretary of the 1st and 2nd Student Theater Festival in 2000 and 2001 as well as executive director of national conference of student cultural and art centers in 2002.
She has directed “A Blue Star” in 1997, “Nothing Existed” in 2002, “A Dream” in 2007, “Said You Will See Today and Tomorrow and the Day After Tomorrow” in 2011, “Kaviani Flag” in 2012 and “I Will Return Near the Star” in 2004.
“Hallaj Said You Will See Today and Tomorrow and the Day After Tomorrow” received the top director award of AnimArt World Puppet Carnival. It also awarded in Almaty, Kazakhstan, Prague, the Czech Republic and Lodz, Poland.
The piece, which is written by Nima Dehghani, opened on November 6 in 3-Noghteh Theater in Tehran.
Zohreh Behrouzinia tells more about the piece.
Why have you staged “Hallaj…” again?
The piece was staged in 2011 and attended several international festivals. It is typical everywhere in the world to re-stage a show. That is why I decided to stage the piece in a private theater again.
Have you made any changes in your new performance?
The most important change was that Mehrnoush Shariati (leading character) to replace Hoda Naseh and the performance to remain stable in its form.
Why has “Hallaj…” managed to connect to foreign audience in recent years?
The piece is about Iran culture and a regular foreign theater-goer can understand the signs of Iran through the piece. It raises many questions and answers for a foreign audience. They try to have more information about Iranian elements of the piece. Foreign spectators told me repeatedly that the images, movements of the actors with puppets are their most important ways of connection with the piece. The puppets, which are made by performers by fabrics, are inspired by Iranian Gods and Goddesses.