TEHRAN -- After a six-year hiatus, Iranian director Ahmad Soleimani is making a highly anticipated return to the stage with In the Tsars’ Neighborhood, written by longtime collaborator Mohammad Reza Kohestani. 
The production, set to open this January, marks Soleimani’s first show since his acclaimed staging of Mary Poppins at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall. Produced by Muhammad Ghods, the new play continues the creative partnership that has brought works like Monks of the Wang Temple, The Last Supper, and One Small Click to life.
Set in a Qajar-era mansion near a centuries-old city cemetery, In the Tsars’ Neighborhood centers on Mah Monir, a woman who follows her family tradition of offering shelter to travelers. When reports surface that several elderly men have mysteriously disappeared over the past year, the household becomes the site of a suspenseful chain of events, culminating in the revelation of a deeper, long-held secret. Casting, crew, and performance details are expected to be announced soon.
Meanwhile, Arvand Dasht-Arai’s latest production, Belgian Fish, is gearing up for its debut at Tehran’s Core Box theater in the Book Garden Cineplex. Pre-sale tickets opened this week for the show’s first three performances, which run December 14–16. The cast includes Kazem Sayahi and Tahereh Hazaveh.
Written by Leonore Confino and translated by Hamidreza Amanpour Gharaei, Belgian Fish tells “an unusual account of a surprising encounter,” promising an intimate yet thought-provoking theatrical experience. The production is the newest offering from the Virgule Film & Performing Arts Company and will run nightly at 7 PM beginning December 14.
With Soleimani’s return and Dasht-Arai’s latest work, Tehran audiences are set for a vibrant start to the new theater season, showcasing both historical intrigue and contemporary storytelling.