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Feminine Perspective of Famous Shahnameh Story

Feminine Perspective of  Famous Shahnameh Story
Feminine Perspective of  Famous Shahnameh Story

The play ‘Manijeh’ directed by theater director Bahareh Javandoust will be staged at Konesh-e-Moaser (contemporary reaction) Complex in Tehran, with a different narrative of the story of Bijan and Manijeh from Ferdowsi’s famous work Shahnameh (Book of Kings).

A joint work of Chameh Art Group and Mehrnava music band, the play is a combination of drama, music and ‘naqali’ (traditional Iranian story-telling) which takes “a feminine perspective” of the famous classic love story written by the great Persian poet centuries ago, ISNA reported.

In the original story in Shahnameh, Ferdowsi narrates the tale of Bijan, son of Giv, a famous Iranian knight during the reign of Kai Khosrow, a shah of Iran, who falls in love with Manijeh, the daughter of Afrasiab, the king of Turan and the greatest enemy of Iran.

However, in Javandoust’s adaption, she gives the account of what happens from Manijeh’s perspective. “In fact, we want to show that the sufferings Manijeh endured are on the shoulders of today’s women in another form,” the director noted.

The character of Manijeh is played by three actresses, in roles to represent her physical presence, her thoughts and her voice. Javandoust plays one of the roles. The musicians and the chorus are also all women.

A graduate of English language and literature, Javandoust learned naqali as a teenager and has started her activities in theater as a director and playwright for four years. She also teaches English language, dramatic literature and performing arts.

The play will be staged for three nights from March 8-10 at Konesh-e-Moaser located at No. 542, Taleqani St., between Sarparast and Fariman Streets.

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