Passenger Astaneh explanation about the physical and online holding of “Fajr Theater” in Tehran and Yazd

Theater News Base: Hossein Mosaferastaneh said about how the Fajr Theater Festival is held in Yazd: “The Fajr Theater Festival has been seeking to extend its sections in the provinces of the country for many years, and this event was held as a provincial Fajr in some periods in the past years and works from the festival in some provinces.” They were performed so that those interested in other provinces could also benefit from the Fajr Theater Festival. A memorandum of understanding was signed with the Yazd governor about three or four months ago, and the opening ceremony of the festival is scheduled to be held in Yazd with the participation of them and relevant institutions. Of course, except for the opening of some of the festival’s selected plays, it will also be performed in the street and stage sections.

He added: “In this way, the festival will be opened in Yazd from the 14th of Bahman and the plays will be staged in Tehran from the 17th to the 26th of Bahman according to the set schedule.”

Noting that there are applicants from other provinces to participate in the Fajr Festival, which has not yet been decided, he continued: The future will be postponed. However, I hope this will be the first step for the provinces to participate in the Fajr Theater Festival.

The Astana traveler said about the province’s share in the financial issues of sending theater groups: The works that will be performed in Yazd are all a selection of works selected for the Fajr Theater Festival, and as a rule, part of the costs are borne by the province; That is, the cost of sending and traveling groups is the responsibility of the festival, and the cost of accommodation, reception and preparing the conditions for the performance will be the responsibility of the province (Yazd).

What would be the criteria for selecting Yazd if other provinces were ready to participate, and what are the performance capacities there? answered: There is theatrical capacity in all provinces because the history of theater performance in different provinces of the country is long, but what brought us to this understanding was the seriousness of Yazd’s stakeholders, especially the governor’s office, the propaganda organization and the general guidance office of that province. Basically, any province that is applying and can afford to participate and pay for parts of the festival, we will be ready to send groups there for the benefit of those interested.

The secretary of the 40th edition of the Fajr Theater Festival also said in response to criticisms of the festival’s constant change in recent years – as an international festival: Whether or not it coincided with the Fajr Film Festival was not our criterion for holding a theater festival, but this inconsistency of history is the correct criticism that comes in. Of course, in the last one or two years, we had to make this decision due to the special circumstances in which we find ourselves, but the reality is that the Fajr Theater Festival must have a fixed history in all years. According to its previous regulations, the festival must be held in the first decade of February, which is also a good date for the event, but some issues, including coronary restrictions, imposed a change of date two years ago. I hope that with the peace that we will see in the society from now on, the history of the festival will be consistent from the first to the twelfth of Bahman, like the previous periods.

Hossein Mosafer Astana on whether any predictions have been made to limit the capacity of the halls in the event of a new corona peak? He expressed At the moment, we consider the capacity of 100% of the halls, but we are worried that if the new direction causes another peak, we will have to change the capacity and impose restrictions, which of course will be determined by the Corona headquarters, and we will be subject to the instructions.

He also explained about the forecast of holding the festival online: ‌ In addition to the physical condition, we are fully ready to hold the festival online, and even if we have the capacity of 100% of the halls, we will hold the festival virtually. This is an event that I hope will remain in the festival from now on to meet the needs of fans from different parts of the country, because it is not possible for many to come to Tehran to see the works.

In the end, he said about the status of the works of the international section of the festival: Groups from European and neighboring countries volunteered to participate in the festival, but with the new corona, concerns have been raised and some European groups, despite announcing their readiness and acceptance of their works, are worried about the possibility of canceling their flights and travels. Do not provide the conditions for virtual performance and viewing of their works.

The closing ceremony of the 40th Fajr International Theater Festival is scheduled to be held on February 26, at the same time as the birth anniversary of Imam Ali (as) in Vahdat Hall.