Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Theater – Iran'

In the twentieth century, Western theatre practitioners, aware of the gap between actor and spectator and the barrier between the stage and the auditorium, experimented with ways to bridge this gap and cross barriers, which in the western theatrical tradition have been ignored over the centuries. Stanislavski, Meyerhold, Piscator, Brecht, Grotowski, and more recently Peter Brook are only a few of the figures who tried to engage spectators and enable them to participate more fully in the play. Yet in Iran there has existed for over three centuries a form of theatre which, thanks to its unique method of approaching reality, creates precise moments in which the worlds of the actor and the spectator come together in perfect unity. It is called ???taziyeh???, and the aim of this thesis is to offer a comprehensive account of this complex and sophisticated theatre. The thesis examines taziyeh through the accounts of eyewitnesses, and explores taziyeh???s method of acting, its form, concepts, the aims of each performance, its sources and origins, and the evolution of this Iranian phenomenon from its emergence in the tenth century. Developed from the philosophical point of view of Iranian mysticism on the one hand, and annual mourning ceremonies with ancient roots on the other, taziyeh has been performed by hundreds of different professional groups for more than three hundred years. Each performance is a significant event in the experience of actors and spectators. The thesis argues that through a careful and comprehensive exploration of taziyeh from its emergence to our time, we can ultimately experience a new horizon in theatre in which we may discover theatrical potentiality and dynamism in a way that has not yet been achieved in conventional Western theatre.

Le théâtre persan moderne est véritablement né au XIXe siècle, avec la découverte du théâtre occidental. Les hommes politiques éclairés ont tenté de moderniser la Perse en envoyant des étudiants en France pour apprendre les sciences modernes. Rentrés au pays, ces étudiants avaient un vif intérêt pour la culture française, y compris pour le théâtre. En outre, en Perse, nous constatons également la montée d’une classe bourgeoise où se développaient des idées réformistes et néo-religieuses. C’est sur ce fond de réformes et de mutations économiques, politiques et sociales que se crée la nouvelle forme littéraire que constitue le théâtre persan moderne. Ainsi, Le Misanthrope de Molière a été traduit sous le nom de Gozâreš-e mardom goriz par Mirzâ Habib Esfahâni, un exilé politique (Istanbul, 1869), avec toutefois une grande liberté dans la restitution des noms des personnages et des traits de caractère, de sorte que le jeu était plus persan que français. En plus des adaptations directes, le théâtre persan a également été influencé par le théâtre classique français à travers les œuvres des hommes de théâtre persans comme Mirzâ Aghâ Tabrizi. Ses comédies traitent essentiellement, sur un mode ironique, de la corruption politique et des superstitions. Ces écrivains ont essayé de composer ou d’adapter des pièces modernes, généralement dans l’esprit de Molière, mettant en scène des personnages typiques, décrivant des épisodes à la fois comiques et satiriques qui témoignent d’une volonté de s’adresser à toutes les classes sociales. Étant donné ce lien évident entre théâtre persan et théâtre français, nous envisageons une analyse socio-historique des pièces persanes, surtout depuis la fin du XIXe siècle, qui souligne notamment leurs rapports avec l’œuvre de Molière, tout en mettant en évidence leurs enjeux culturels
The modern Persian theatre was trully born in the nineteenth century, thank to the discovery of the western theatre. Enlightened politicians have tried to modernise Persia, students were to be send sent to France in order to learn modern science. When these students were coming home they had a lively interest for French culture including its theatre. Moreover, in Persia, we can notice the rise of a middle class where reformist and neo-religious ideas developed themselves. This background is where economical, political and social reforms and changes emerged to create a new literary genre that is to be found in modern Persian theatre. Thus, Le Misanthrope by Molière was traduced by Gozâreš-e mardom goriz by Mirzâ Habib Esfahâni who was in a political exile (in Instanbul in 1869). Nevertheless he took great liberties in the characters’names and their personalities so that the acting was more Persian than French. In addition to direct adaptations, Persian theatre was also influenced by the Classic French theatre with the work of Persian playwrights such as Mirzâ Aghâ Tabrizi. His comedies are mainly ironic and about political corruption and superstitions. These writers tried to compose or adapt modern plays –often in Molière’s way- bringing typical characters to life, describing scenes that are at the same time comical and satirical. It was a mean a means to address their works to every social group. Because of this obvious link between Persian and French theatre. I am considering doing a socio-historical analysis of Persian plays especially from the end of the nineteenth century because they put to light the relation with Molière’s work but also highlight the cultural issues

La marionnette iranienne, par son fonctionnement, son rôle et son comportement esthétique et sociopolitique sur les scènes théâtrales et à la télévision, est un objet et une sorte de personnage hybride : tout en exhibant la nature hybride de cette forme théâtrale, la démarche marionnettique souligne le « grand » pouvoir de cette « petite » chose mineure et trouve un espace pour jouer avec ce même pouvoir. Ainsi, la marionnette en Iran, depuis au moins dix siècles, participe à un « jeu » au-delà des jeux marionnettiques, tout en résistant aux changements de la société. Elle se renouvelle donc en toute occasion et s’épanouit de nos jours tout en revendiquant à sa guise la liberté de parole et de geste. Pour saisir ce phénomène, cet ouvrage s’attache à suivre les traces de la marionnette dans la société iranienne, à partir du XIe siècle, dans la littérature classique persane au style allégorique et symbolique, puis, à partir du XVIIe siècle, dans les récits de voyageurs occidentaux. Parallèlement aux études historiques, cette thèse donne des informations majeures sur l’identité sociale de la marionnette iranienne et sur les trois techniques traditionnelles du théâtre de marionnettes. A partir du XXe siècle, la transformation, voire la mutation des formes marionnettiques iraniennes, ainsi que leur entrée à l’Université témoignent d’un renouveau à travers lequel certains sujets délicats, voire tabous, peuvent être abordés en détournant la censure
Iranian puppetry and the Iranian puppet show, it's operation, it's role and it's sociopolitical nature, on both stage and TV, is a form with a kind of hybrid character. Indeed, this approach emphasizes the power of this “small” scale theatrical art form to tackle “big” subjects, demonstrating it's hybrid nature. Puppetry in Iran, for the last ten centuries, participates in a “game” beyond the traditional marionette show, resisting change in society. However it somehow manages to renew itself on every occasion and flourish in the present, proclaiming the freedom of speech and gesture. The goal of this thesis is to grasp this phenomenon, by following puppetry in Iranian society through the ages. From the eleventh century classical Persian literature, with it's allegorical and symbolic style, onto the seventeenth century with stories of Western travelers and finally the twentieth century, where Iranian marionettes are transformed or mutated into something universal relevant to Iranian society, addressing certain touchy subjects or taboos and managing to circumnavigate censorship rules. Alongside these historical studies, this thesis describes the social identity of Iranian puppetry and the three traditional techniques of puppet theater

Bahram Beyzaie, né en 1938 en Iran, est considéré comme un très grand cinéaste et auteur dramatique de sa génération. Si certains de ses films sont bien connus, son théâtre est moins célèbre à l’étranger parce qu’il a été peu traduit et peu joué. Pour lui le théâtre est le lieu par excellence où renouer avec les formes traditionnelles de spectacle non pas pour les reconstituer mais pour parler au public d’aujourd’hui et lutter contre l’amnésie. Il nourrit donc ses pièces de théâtre, ses films, ses contes et ses narrations de l’héritage culturel oublié de son pays. Cette thèse propose d’examiner l’influence, dans son oeuvre dramatique, des spectacles traditionnels d’Iran tels que le Ta’zieh, le Naghâli ou l’Art du conteur, les marionnettes, la farce du Siyâh Bâzi, ainsi que la trace des mythes et de l’histoire de l’Iran. Dans tout ce qu’il écrit, une importance extrême est accordée à la langue perse utilisée avec virtuosité. De nombreux extraits d’ouvrages de recherche et de pièces sont proposés ici en traduction française. Une importante iconographie accompagne cette étude et rend compte des spectacles que Bahram Beyzaie a mis en scène. Il continue son travail artistique en Californie car il est actuellement un auteur en exil
Born in 1938 in Iran, Bahram Beyzaie is considered as a great filmmaker and playwright of his generation. While some of his films are well known, his theater is less famous abroad because it has been little translated or performed. For him theater is the place where to keep in touch with tradition, not to just preserve it, but to reach today’s public and fight against amnesia. He thus feeds his plays, his films, his tales and his narrations of the forgotten dramatic legacy of his country. This thesis proposes to examine the influence, in his dramatic work, of traditional Iranian performances such as Ta'zieh, Naghali or the Art of Storytelling, Puppet Theater and Siyâh Bâzi or Farce, as well as the traces of the myths and history of Iran. In everything he writes, a prominent place is dedicated to the Persian language used with utmost virtuosity. Many excerpts of texts on the theater and plays are here translated for the first time into French. A very rich iconography, mainly of his own staging of his plays, illustrates the study. Beyzaie continues his artistic work in California where he is presently an author in exile

L’art du naqqâli en Iran est basé sur une longue tradition de récits épiques portant sur des héros de la légende nationale iranienne. La principale source de ces épopées, Le Livre des rois de Ferdowsi, est un œuvre fondamentale de la culture nationale. Les conteurs professionnels «naqqâl» récitent, en les adaptant, les passages du Livre des rois pendant des heures à l’assistance dans certaines maisons de thé, plus connues sous l'appellation de cafés traditionnels. La représentation du naqqâli qui dure approximativement une heure et demi comporte trois parties d’environ une demi-heure chacune. Une session habituelle commence par une introduction poétique suivie d’une entrée en matière pour introduire l’histoire et s’achève par l’histoire proprement dite. Le début et la fin de chaque partie sont marqués par une combinaison de salavât (prière récitée en chœur) et de récitations de poèmes classiques qui ne sont pas nécessairement liés à l’histoire elle-même, mais servent en général à retenir l’attention du public pendant la représentation. Les qualités de la récitation du naqqâl reposent sur un ensemble de méthodes complémentaires permettant de donner plus de relief au spectacle : les méthodes oratoires, gestuelles et l’approche musicale. Les naqqâl utilisent les rouleaux de parchemin appelés tumâr pour préparer la représentation et s’aider pendant la récitation tout en prenant des libertés par rapport au texte dans le but de retenir l’attention de leur auditoire. Les caractéristiques formelles spécifiques de ce genre de représentation qui se rapporte à ses contraintes minimales sont : la durée fixe d’une représentation et son découpage sérialisé, l’influence plus ou moins directe de la structure du tumâr et en particulier sa division en trois niveaux d’unités structurelles : le chapitre, la partie et l’épisode
The art of naqqâli in Iran is based on a long tradition of epics involving heroes of the Iranian National legend. The main source of these epics, Ferdowsi’s Book of the Kings, is a cornerstone of the national culture. Over long hours, professional naqqâl recite passages from the Book of the Kings to the audience in tea-houses, known as traditional cafes. The naqqâli performance lasts about one and half hours and up to three parts for about half an hour each. A session usually begins with an introduction followed by a poetic prelude to outline the story and ends with the story itself. The beginning and end of each part are salavât (prayer recited in unison) and recitations of classic poems which are not necessarily related to the history itself, but in general serve the purpose of gaining the public attention during the performance. The quality of the naqqâl’s recitation based on a set of methods to give a larger dimension to the show such as: oratory techniques, gesture and musical approach. Naqqâl use parchment scroll called tumâr prepared for the performance which help with the recitation while taking liberties with respect to the text in order to attract the attention of their audience. The formal features of this type of performance which refer to its minimal constraints are : the fixed duration of performance and its serial form, the more or less direct influence of the structure of the tumâr, particularly its division into 3 levels of structural units : chapter, instalment and episode

This paper is presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Lighting Design. This paper examines the lighting design of Ajax in Iraq. This gives the point of view of the production, the approach taken and self-evaluation of the success and failures therein.

A l’opposé des spectacles traditionnels iraniens qui sont un sujet exploré depuis des années par la recherche théâtrale notamment à l’extérieur des frontières iraniennes, l’étude du« théâtre en Iran » est encore à ses balbutiements. La présente étude se concentre sur une période cruciale de l’histoire contemporaine iranienne où dans un contexte très agité les efforts sincères de trois initiés : Mir Seyfeddin Kermanshahi, Abdolhossein Noushin et Shahin Sarkissian parviennent au lancement d’un théâtre qui se réclamant de l’art, dépasse le cadre du simple divertissement ou de la pure propagande et est capable de méditer sur les interrogations fondamentales du peuple iranien notamment la question de l’identité.Le facteur déterminant à prendre en considération dans leur parcours est sans doute leur formation on Occident, en Russie et en France, et leur rencontre avec le mouvement européen du Théâtre d’Art
While the traditional Iranian performances have been, in the late years, an object for theatre studies, notably outside of Iran, research on « Theatre in Iran » is still to be developed.This study zooms on a crucial period in contemporary Iranian history, when in a verycomplex context the earnest endeavours of three specialists, Mir Seyfeddin Kermanshahi, Abdolhossein Noushin and Shahin Sarkissian, succeeded in launching a theatre that, claiming the status of art, out passed the boundaries of plain entertainment or pure propaganda and wasable to consider the fundamental questionings of the Iranian people and notably the question of identity.The determining factor to be considered in their enterprise is doubtlessly their Occidental formation, in Russia and in France, and their confrontation with the European movement of Art Theatre

Underneath the romance, comedy and exoticism, South Pacific is a story that questioned core American values, exploring issues of race and power at a time when these topics were intensely relevant-the original opened just four years post WWII, on the heels of Roosevelt's aggressive expansionist response to domestic instabilities. Much has been written about the depiction of war and racial prejudice in South Pacific. However, examining such topics in the context of their cultural and political moment (both in 1949 and 2008) and through the lens of Terry Eagleton's unique take on morality, is not only a fascinating study, but an intensely relevant and unchartered endeavor. This work concerns the evolution of an American code of ethics as it has been reflected and constructed in both Broadway productions of Roger and Hammerstein's South Pacific (c.1949, 2008). Specifically, it examines the depiction of WWII, America's imperialistic foreign policy, and the function of American patriotism in light of Terry Eagleton's theories surrounding an evolving code of ethics in 20th/21st century America. By so doing, this thesis uncovers answers to the following questions: What were the cultural and political forces at work at the time South Pacific was created (both in 1949 and 2008), and how did these forces influence the contrasting depictions of war, imperialism and patriotism in each version of the musical? In what ways were these productions reflective of a code of ethics that evolved from what Eagleton would classify as moral realism (prescriptive of behavior) to moral nihilism (reflective of behavior)? How did the use of this increasingly reflexive moral code make this politically controversial musical more palatable, and therefore commercially viable during the contrasting political climates of WWII and the recent war on Iraq? Determining answers to questions such as these enables us as a society to look back on our history-on our mistakes and triumphs-and recognize our tendency to find pragmatic justification for our actions rather than acknowledging the possibility of the existence of objective truth, which remains unchanged through time and circumstance.

The theme of the master´s theses is to design a wooden structure of city theater with internal steel construction. The concept of wooden structure is developed in two versions according to standard ČSN EN. The theses solve the static effect of the construction and design of individual parts and materials. Theater has dimensions 49.0 x 25.6 m, max. height of 12.5 meters. The construstion is devise to withstand a weight and applicability. The supporting structure of the roof is solved using by 13 arched plate girders. The second variant is designed as arched truss girders. The gable wall is glassed-in, glass envelopes support by wooden structure with columns and side runners. The work also includes solutions for joins and construction details. The structure was solved in the program RSTAB Dlubal 8. The assessment of the components was done using additional module TIMBER Pro. First Variant of plate girder was checking by manual report. The work includes drawings.

abstract: In this dissertation, I translate and provide a critical analysis of the Iranian play, Tomb Dwellers (2009), by Hussein Kiyani. It was first staged after the contested presidential election in Iran in 2009 which brought Mahmoud Ahmadinejad into power for a second term. The play depicts the socioeconomic situation of Iran and its relation to other countries, the situation of women and the working class during Ahmadinejad’s two terms of presidency. Tomb Dwellers is written as a comedy, a genre more likely to make it past censors in Iran or other despotic countries. My research and translation project are sparked by questions that move in two directions simultaneously: one, toward understanding the sociopolitical context for theatre in Iran after the revolution of 1979; the other, toward the challenges of translating into English a play that stands as a social metaphor in its own historical context. Regarding the former, which forms the basis of my critical analysis, I explore the strategies artists have used to avoid the limitations imposed by the authorities. In making this play available to English-speaking readers at a time of political tension between Iran and the United States I offer to USAmerican audiences a more nuanced perspective of the way Iranian people feel about their government and its relation to other countries. This play is both timely and informative. Timely because of the tensions between the US and the Middle East. Informative because it represents the Iranian community and may serve to create a bridge between the two cultures. Translating and staging this play along with the critical analysis I am providing will help American audiences and immigrants from other countries to know more about Iran in a creative and entertaining way.
Dissertation/Thesis
Doctoral Dissertation Theatre 2019

This thesis is the written portion of my experience as a director, staging an adaptation of the traditional Iranian theater form, Ta’zieh, for my thesis project. I start with a brief description of our adapted performance, followed by the inspirations that led to the creation of the piece. I then trace the evolution of the idea from the initial stage to the final performance. I describe the adaptation process in three sections, the story, form, and practice. In each section, in a comparative manner, I write about the ways in which Ta’zieh is traditionally done and elaborate on our decisions while adapting it for a new audience. I explain the challenges of adapting and directing the play outside of its original context and discuss how I worked on making this performance an intercultural experience. I conclude to write how I think these artistic cultural exchanges can connect us between countries and cultures, shed a light on our shared struggles and hopes, and lead us to connect on deeper levels of understanding.

This work looks at the 2009 Iranian show-trials through modern discourses of biopolitics, sovereignty, and history. I argue that, understood as a theatrical phenomenon, the show trials are situated within the Foucauldian mode of biopower. The latter entails a shift from a politics of death to the preservation of the bios. The show-trials also perform a particularly modern narrative of state sovereignty and teleological history. To consider them in this way requires a rethinking of Michel Foucault’s theory so as to include juridico-philosophical discourse within a biopolitical framework. I propose that, as a performative act, the confessions transform the very thing they are confessing. Through the work of Jean Baudrillard and Jacque Derrida, I argue that the confessions make possible a reconceptualization of the political space of sovereignty as simulacrum and that of the political time of history as hauntology.
Graduate