Berliner Boersenzeitung - Rocking 'King Lear' to draw young audience in Iran

EUR -
AED 4.298109
AFN 79.880024
ALL 97.270029
AMD 447.300132
ANG 2.094673
AOA 1073.211349
ARS 1517.417851
AUD 1.797225
AWG 2.107508
AZN 1.985504
BAM 1.955801
BBD 2.359501
BDT 141.980042
BGN 1.955801
BHD 0.4406
BIF 3484.901025
BMD 1.17035
BND 1.4983
BOB 8.075002
BRL 6.320597
BSD 1.1686
BTN 102.20203
BWP 15.639005
BYN 3.898501
BYR 22938.86675
BZD 2.347301
CAD 1.61678
CDF 3388.164381
CHF 0.944357
CLF 0.028762
CLP 1128.33521
CNY 8.405571
CNH 8.41271
COP 4736.302512
CRC 590.500174
CUC 1.17035
CUP 31.014284
CVE 110.265032
CZK 24.477296
DJF 208.100061
DKK 7.463617
DOP 71.930021
DZD 151.639045
EGP 56.487258
ERN 17.555255
ETB 164.584948
FJD 2.64019
FKP 0.863463
GBP 0.863426
GEL 3.148211
GGP 0.863463
GHS 12.679004
GIP 0.863463
GMD 84.852416
GNF 10132.002981
GTQ 8.963003
GYD 244.390072
HKD 9.15822
HNL 30.590009
HRK 7.532959
HTG 152.910045
HUF 395.137781
IDR 18963.18663
ILS 3.959839
IMP 0.863463
INR 102.421453
IQD 1530.80045
IRR 49286.379764
ISK 143.191801
JEP 0.863463
JMD 186.990055
JOD 0.829772
JPY 172.512563
KES 150.97502
KGS 102.263803
KHR 4681.001377
KMF 492.128361
KPW 1053.315312
KRW 1625.183457
KWD 0.357507
KYD 0.9738
KZT 633.010186
LAK 25293.007442
LBP 104647.030792
LKR 351.740103
LRD 234.300069
LSL 20.550306
LTL 3.45574
LVL 0.707933
LYD 6.320002
MAD 10.527503
MDL 19.486006
MGA 5199.00153
MKD 61.535018
MMK 2457.194863
MNT 4209.507363
MOP 9.417403
MRU 46.744014
MUR 53.414962
MVR 18.035076
MWK 2026.300596
MXN 21.914354
MYR 4.933043
MZN 74.788422
NAD 20.550306
NGN 1789.688129
NIO 43.000013
NOK 11.922604
NPR 163.523048
NZD 1.97341
OMR 0.44967
PAB 1.1686
PEN 4.165401
PGK 4.862001
PHP 66.781373
PKR 331.545898
PLN 4.258837
PYG 8558.002518
QAR 4.260501
RON 5.064221
RSD 117.180034
RUB 93.26815
RWF 1692.100498
SAR 4.391742
SBD 9.624696
SCR 17.496205
SDG 702.795443
SEK 11.181861
SGD 1.50139
SHP 0.919712
SLE 27.267368
SLL 24541.659171
SOS 667.800197
SRD 43.958394
STD 24223.889201
STN 24.500007
SVC 10.225003
SYP 15216.68645
SZL 20.544006
THB 37.966119
TJS 10.897103
TMT 4.10793
TND 3.415301
TOP 2.74108
TRY 47.871367
TTD 7.929002
TWD 35.115156
TZS 3052.900975
UAH 48.231314
UGX 4160.001224
USD 1.17035
UYU 46.750014
UZS 14703.004326
VES 158.547771
VND 30745.103547
VUV 139.439583
WST 3.237512
XAF 655.957193
XAG 0.030867
XAU 0.000351
XCD 3.16293
XCG 2.106101
XDR 0.8158
XOF 655.957193
XPF 119.331742
YER 281.205909
ZAR 20.587445
ZMK 10534.558564
ZMW 27.082008
ZWL 376.852333
  • CMSD

    0.0505

    23.34

    +0.22%

  • SCS

    -0.0500

    16.15

    -0.31%

  • BCC

    -0.6300

    85.99

    -0.73%

  • NGG

    -0.1300

    71.43

    -0.18%

  • BCE

    0.2400

    25.61

    +0.94%

  • GSK

    0.5581

    39.36

    +1.42%

  • AZN

    0.7000

    79.17

    +0.88%

  • RBGPF

    2.8400

    75.92

    +3.74%

  • BTI

    -0.2700

    57.15

    -0.47%

  • CMSC

    0.0300

    23.12

    +0.13%

  • RIO

    0.2000

    61.24

    +0.33%

  • JRI

    0.0835

    13.36

    +0.62%

  • VOD

    0.0300

    11.67

    +0.26%

  • BP

    0.1892

    34.33

    +0.55%

  • RYCEF

    -0.2100

    14.71

    -1.43%

  • RELX

    0.2700

    47.96

    +0.56%

Rocking 'King Lear' to draw young audience in Iran
Rocking 'King Lear' to draw young audience in Iran / Photo: ATTA KENARE - AFP

Rocking 'King Lear' to draw young audience in Iran

An Iranian director is breathing new life into William Shakespeare's "King Lear" with a bold staging in Tehran infused with rock music and a dazzling light show to attract younger audiences.

Text size:

In Iran, artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians and playwrights must walk a tightrope to avoid censorship of content the authorities deem inappropriate.

But despite political tensions between Tehran and the West, many international works still make it to the Iranian stage.

Now well-known actress Elika Abdolrazzaghi has taken on the challenge of reimagining "King Lear" for a contemporary audience.

"If I had staged the original version, it would have been too heavy for people -- they would have been bored," the 45-year-old told AFP.

To inject energy into the performance, Abdolrazzaghi has incorporated music from British rock band Muse and German industrial metal group Rammstein.

Vivid costumes and sparkling lights lend the production a festive atmosphere, despite the play's dark core.

First published in the early 17th century, "King Lear" tells the story of a crumbling monarchy and a family torn apart by betrayal, power struggles and hunger for the throne.

An ageing and weary Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters, based on how well they flatter him in public.

- 'No restrictions' -

Naive and prideful, Lear disowns Cordelia, his youngest daughter, who refuses to join the charade.

"I transformed many word-heavy sections of the play into movement, imagery, music and dance," Abdolrazzaghi said.

The actors wear richly detailed costumes in bold reds, greens and yellows, inspired by classic fashions from the 17th century.

Reza Yazdani, a household name in Iran's rock scene, performs the Persian-language songs live on stage.

The production has struck a chord with theatregoers.

"We didn't think we could sit through a two-hour play," Amin, a 32-year-old engineer, told AFP.

"But it was really good -- from the actors' performances to the music and set design," he said after going to the play with his wife, Elham.

With a company of around 100 people, including several dozen actors, Abdolrazzaghi and her team spent several months preparing the show.

"In Iran there are many women directing theatre, but few are well known," she said.

Abdolrazzaghi, who has performed in works by Bertolt Brecht, Friedrich Durrenmatt from Switzerland and France's Yasmina Reza, says the Iranian authorities impose "no restrictions" on staging foreign plays.

- 'A more just world' -

"Theatre is essentially a Western phenomenon and remains a young art form in Iran," said Abdolrazzaghi.

Ahmad Saatchian, the lead actor and a stage veteran with two decades of experience, calls Lear "the greatest role" of his career.

"Portraying one of the most important characters in literary history is a rare opportunity for an actor," he said.

Tragedies such as "King Lear" are "universal and resonate with people around the world -- that's why Shakespeare remains timeless," he added.

In recent years, many of Shakespeare's works have been performed in Iran.

"Countries that have experienced similar political dynamics -- like Iran or those in Eastern Europe -- tend to connect deeply with Shakespeare's work," said Saatchian.

In the final act, Lear, broken by betrayal, regains clarity before his death.

"In one scene, Lear calls on those in power to expose themselves to the suffering of the poor in order to build a more just world," Saatchian said.

"That's a message that resonates everywhere."

(O.Joost--BBZ)