Iraj Rad’s account of a danger / they want to tarnish the popularity of artists among the people

Charso Press: The actor and theater director, who is currently on stage with the play “Whisper in My Healthy Ear” at the Shahrzad Theater Campus, continued: “Sometimes it is said that theater artists earn a lot of money; I must say that theater has no income and no economic definition anywhere in the world. Our theater artists are never made a living through theater. We pay from our own pockets for the theater to run. But this kind of attitude and criticism has a negative effect on our work and confuses the audience.

“There is no support for a theatrical production,” said Rad, speaking on the radio program “Bracket News”. There are a lot of costs involved in producing a play. Now you see, after all these problems to produce a work whose play was first licensed, then reviewed and even its poster and brochure were licensed, it is not clear whether the play will remain on stage until the end or not ?!
Iraj Rad said about the criticism of artists by irresponsible officials: “Unfortunately, there are criticisms of artists that cause people to be pessimistic about artists!”

He recalled the play “Whisper in My Healthy Ear”: “We rehearsed the play directed by the governor a few years before his death.” Unfortunately, at that time, the master fell ill and died, and this religion fell on me. Later, this performance was postponed for various reasons. I spoke with Mr. Saeed Amir Soleimani, who was in Mr. Wali’s group. We went to a few performances during his anniversary and decided to stage this play.

The actor clarified about the fringes and events of these days of theater: The problem is that there is no organization in the theater space and there is chaos. Currently, we have neither a hall nor a defined group. Professionals and amateurs are not known. These currents have caused the theater to deviate from its original and, unfortunately, to perform works that are not theater. Or jobs that people who do not have the expertise or experience of theater have to use for the box office and ticket sales. People go to see the show up close to see these people, not to see the show.

He added: “Unfortunately, for some time now, we have been seeing performance techniques in theaters, which is not the form of a theater, but the form of attraction and has a low content aspect, and is only for entertainment.” These works are not looking for the right cultural movement, they are looking for what is the taste of today’s audience?

Rad added: “Of course, these tricks are not universal, and there are still genuine theaters that have worked hard in this area and are not just looking for the box office and attracting spectators in any way.” Those who are looking for the basic, cultural and artistic work of the theater, which unfortunately fails at the box office. As a result, groups are moving to the tastes of viewers who want to see a show or entertainment program. Of course, I’m not against entertainment. The work of art must also be attractive and communicate with the audience, but how to use these creative contexts to produce a work of art and culture is very important!

The chairman of the board of directors of the theater house said about the margins of licenses and the theater evaluation council: “Sometimes the evaluation council is strict.” Sometimes other centers and bodies criticize the evaluation council for giving permission for such and such work. In many cases, the centers that raise this objection to the council should not legally do so. Because this work is related to the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance! We ourselves sometimes have problems with the evaluation council because of taste decisions, and we intervene in the theater house. But sometimes licensed work is challenged elsewhere. That’s why we are confused ‌ who is really responsible? Which body is responsible and who should we deal with? Unfortunately, there is no credit for staying on stage when something goes on!

The play “Whisper in my healthy ear” with the presence of Dr. Nahid Tabatabai

It has also been announced in another news, the play “Whisper in my healthy ear” on Wednesday with the presence of Dr. Nahid Tabatabai and the living family of Dr. Tabatabai; The translator of this work goes on stage.

The play “Whisper in My Healthy Ear” starring Iraj Rad and Saeed Amir Soleimani is currently on stage at Shahrzad Theater. Ahvaz Theater is performed.
In this performance, a group of well-known theater and cinema artists who entered the field of dramatic arts from the Ahvaz Small Theater Group will also be present.
Dr. Hossein Ali Tabatabai was born in 1311, in the gate of Shemiran, Tehran, in a cultured and educated family. He completed his primary education in the forty-first elementary school and his secondary education in the seminaries and the academy. Dr. Tabataba’i, then, at Question 2, at the France’s Language and Literary Fellowships, he did not receive a question at the University of Dentistry and the Dental School of Dentistry . It was in this department that he translated about forty one-act plays from France.
Dr. Tabatabai was sent to Paris in 1343 to take a course in theater directing, and when he returned, he was appointed director of the newly founded Singlaj Theater. He was then transferred from the center to Dezful and then to Ahvaz in 1346 to study abroad. But his main interest was still theater. His arrival in Ahvaz coincided with the formation of theater classes in the culture and art department of this city, and he was immediately invited. During the eight years of work in this department and the formation of a small theater group, several plays by Iranian and foreign writers were staged under his direction. Eight years later, Dr. Tabatabai returned to Tehran and was invited by Bahram Beizai (Head of the Theater Department of the Faculty of Fine Arts) to teach at the Faculty. The written fruit of these years is the translation of about fifty plays, a book of research and the writing of several plays. In 1378, the services of Dr. Hossein Ali Tabatabai were honored as the father of Khuzestan Theater in Ahvaz, and in 1379, the statue of the 19th International Festival of International Cinema was erected. In 2014, he was awarded the second statuette and plaque of appreciation of the Fajr International Theater Festival. Dr. Tabatabai passed away on August 12, 2009.
The play “Whisper in my healthy ear” is on stage at 20.30 every day except Saturdays at Shahrzad Theater Campus.