Yerma, a tragic play written by Spanish poet, dramatist and theater director Federico Garcia Lorca (1898-1936) is on stage at Tehran's Hafez Hall.
Directed by Ashkan Sadeqi and Elham Shakib, the play will run through August 21, Mehr News Agency reported.
Yerma, literally meaning barren, was described by Lorca as a tragic poem. It tells the story of a childless woman living in rural Spain. Her desperate desire for motherhood obsesses her and eventually drives her to commit a horrific crime.
The performance is actually improvisational theater, (where most or all of what is performed is created on the spot), Sadeqi said.
A major part of the play is accompanied by live music; so it's more like an ensemble than classical theater. However, there are dialogues too and well-known actress Negar Abedi, 41, is acting in the play.
"I am personally fond of Spanish ethnic music and I believe musical theaters are more attractive today."
In this adaptation of Yerma, the cast members are fewer than in the original play. "In some parts, you can see an act within an act."
The current play is different from the earlier show directed by veteran Iranian theater director Ali Rafiee, 77. "That was a classic play, but I wanted this performance to inspire feelings and emotions with music. Hence, the audience should not expect a spectacular mise-en-scene."
Both Sadeqi and Shakib are in the cast. The other actors are Farhad Jam, Atieh Javid and Parandeh Alayi.
Live music is performed by Emad Ejlal, Hana Kamkar, Ahmad Qayed and Kian Kurdistani.
The venue is at Enqelab-Hafez intersection and the show starts at 5:30 pm.
