The play “Burned Oaks” that reflects on the ongoing plight of Iranian victims of chemical weapons used by Iraq during the eight-year-old conflict in the 1980s will go on stage at Mehrab Theater Hall from May 23.
Directed by Esmail Firouzi, the play focuses on the second generation of victims of the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war. It is about health issues and other complications Iranian children of the victims of poison gas attacks grapple with.
During the war, former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein ordered 16 bombing missions by his air force using banned chemical weapons on Iranian cities in the border regions. The most catastrophic of which was the bombardment of crowded areas of the northwestern town of Sardasht in June 28 and 29, 1987 that killed at least 100 civilians and injured hundreds of others.
Sardasht was also the first town in the world to be attacked with poison gas.
The performance also includes five Lurish (ethnic music of western and southwestern regions in Iran) songs, written and composed by Akram Mehr-Ava.
According to Tiwall, the cast includes Amin Vaezi, Hamid Mirzaei, Mohammad Shushtari and Amin Seif.
Located at the intersection of Imam-Khomeini and Valiasr streets, the venue will host the performance till June 20.
