Plus Fadjr Section Will Attract Lethargic Audience to Halls

The Fadjr Festival witnessed a major change in its last edition, which surprised many members of theater community. The judgments were set aside of some section to have more productions in the festival. Also, it tried to regard Fadjr Festival as an annual theater gathering rather than a festival to give award.

Another big surprise of Fadjr Festival last year was inclusion of Plus Fadjr Section. The festival invited private theater venues to introduce their highly-welcomed pieces to the event and perform them during the festival. The festival would allocate some bonuses to the private theaters for this. The new measure gives the festival a chance to claim that it reflects Iran theater like a mirror.

Ten private theater venues are chosen by the secretariat to host the section this year. Moje No Theater is one of them. Milad Shajareh, director of this private theater, talks about participation in the festival.

 

What are the benefits of Plus Fadjr for private theaters?

I think the section is positive for theater more. We play a role in this positive measure. It has no benefit for private theaters to encourage them to take part in the festival given that financial matters were among the most important issues facing them. Bonuses are paid by the festival for taking part in the section. But the amount is the least and cannot count on it financially. The section could help improve theater significantly and consequently benefit all.

Pieces, which will be performed in the festival, had been previously staged in the theater venues. Don’t you think it would be better for private theaters to host works performed in other venues to attract more audience?

I think it is amazing that the Fadjr Festival leaves the hands of private theaters open to choose their pieces based on their tastes and attract certain types of audience. This is important for us too. Pieces may go on stage in these private theaters, which do not have a chance to be performed in the Fadjr Festival. It is one the most positive aspects of the Plus Fadjr Section that we can introduce works ourselves. Moje No is not close to downtown Tehran while it calims to be a center for alternative pieces.  It needs to be introduced in such festival because it is difficult to attract audience to watch such works in other time. Such moves clear path we are walking toward ideals.

What is the ideal point?

I think more supports should be extended. If theater venues receive financial and advertisement supports throughout the year, they can be hopeful of future.