From "Eight Journey" in Mashahd to "Swimming in Fire" in Tehran

Reza Saberi, noted theatre director and playwright, told irantheater.ir that he was going to direct "Eight Journey" for show in Mashhad City Theatre Complex, adding that the piece was performed in the Razavi National Theatre Festival.

The director noted that the piece was planned to be performed in Mashahd in the last Iranian year, which was ended on March 20, but it was postponed because of the busy schedule of Mashhad City Theatre Complex.

Mr Sabri said that preparations were underway for the piece to be performed in the holy city in May.

"Eight Journey" tells the story of gradual elimination of old neighborhoods of Mashhad due to construction projects in the surrounding areas of the holy shrine of the eight Shia Imam Reza (AS) by Afghan and Arab investors.

The author of "The Fifth Victim" and "Blood Dance" said that he was set to re-perform his "Swimming in Fire", which was showed in Tehran in 1993.

"It has been a while that I am to re-produce "Swimming in Fire". Thank God, I will try to perform it in a proper auditorium in Tehran this year following a revision in play and new set design," Mr Saberi explained.

He said that he chose "Swimming in Fire" because it had dealt with artists and their concerns and beliefs.

"Swimming in Fire" is one of the most successful plays of Mr Saberi which won him two awards in the Fadjr International Theatre Festival.