TEHRAN -- The musical show “Proteus” based on the true story of the life of Joseph Carey Merrick known as “Elephant Man” will go to Shahrzad Theater Complex with the accompaniment of a symphony orchestra group, conducted and composed by Vahid Khairi.
Omid Azizi, the director of the musical show, said in an interview with IRNA that the play will be staged as a musical by an Iranian composer.
The show which started Wednesday will be staged for 15 nights at Hall No. 2 of Shahrzad Theater Complex.
Referring to his adaptation of “The Elephant Man and Other Reminiscences” written by Sir Frederick Treves, Azizi said the story of Proteus is that John Merrick suffers from a strange disease that causes big bumps on his body. He has a hard life and is treated like an animal until he meets a doctor named Frederick Treves.
Azizi has written the play and translated the work.
“This is the first time that a musical show adapted from a foreign story accompanied by a symphony orchestra and composed by an Iranian composer is staged. There have been others shows such as Les Miserable based on foreign stories, but Proteus is different because it is composed by an Iranian composer. Khairi, a music student, is in charge of composing the work, and the melodies have an Iranian music mood.