The Show Is a Warning

Jalal Tajangi, author and director, focuses on youth problems in his latest show. He deals with the social and cultural links between Islamic sects. “Abu Bakr Muhammadi, Fatemeh Muhammadi” pictures marriage between a young man of Sunni sect of Islam and a young Shia woman – a topic a few theatre shows have so far focused on. Tajangi is concerned about knowing the Sunnis more and how followers of different Islamic sects can live peacefully. “Abu Bakr Muhammadi, Fatemeh Muhammadi” is important in performance and content. Iran Theater has conducted an interview with Jalal Tajangi to ask him about his motivations for writing such play and musts and must-nots of the performance.

The first encounter is the title. Why did you choose Abu Bakr (a senior companion and—through his daughter Aisha—the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad) who is one of the most important figures for Sunni Muslims and Fatemeh (daughter of prophet Muhammad) who is one of the most important women in Shia Islam? You gave a family name of Muhammadi to both. That means we see a common family name for both with different religious approach but a common root. What is the reason for this title?

It is not a new or strange thing. I supposed if title of a show is chosen based on its characters is sexy. That was true. Those who are familiar with Islamic sects thought the title was smart. But some did not get why I chose the title. That was a reason I became certain that a few people know the cultural issues of the Sunnis…

Given these reactions, do you choose the same title for your show?

Yes. If I had any doubt in the past, I am certain about the title now. The show is basically about shortage of knowledge about the Sunni Muslims in Iran, which is a country of majority Shia Muslims. I think this lack of knowledge of each other is root cause of conflict. This title acts like a thermometer. Although some criticizes the title does not attract the audience, which I admit it somehow. But the title will transfer the required meanings for those who have the least knowledge.   

On the method of the performance, your show combines sound, live performance, video and video clips. Have you had this structure in mind when you were writing the play?

Each one narrates part of the story and limitation of time. We notice in the beginning of the show rude behaviour of the son of the landlord with Abu Bakr through the voice. The audience will know behaviour of Afshar and apology of landlord from Fatemeh throough voice. This method helps us to transfer more in a limited time. A video, which shows Alireza’s research, bank transactions and train movement serve the same purpose. In fact, all performance structures are written upon writing the play and are not abstract and have function. It helps the story to develop while gaining more attraction. It makes the pace of the show fast. Otherwise, the pace of the show would be too slow.