TEHRAN — Two theater productions are set to open in Tehran in the coming weeks, with director Masoud Tayebi reviving his acclaimed Shakespeare adaptation Hamlet the Killer and director Sara Abedi premiering a new staging of The Little Prince.
Hamlet the Killer, written by Yeganeh Muhammadi and Masoud Tayebi and based on William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, will begin its second run at Mehregan Theater on July 22. 
The 40-minute production follows earlier performances at Tehran’s City Theater Complex and an appearance at the ETHOS International Theatre Festival in Turkey.
Produced by Somayeh Tayebi, the new run stars Ali Yaghoubi as the production’s sole performer, replacing Masoud Tayebi, who appeared in the role during the original staging.
The play presents a contemporary, condensed reinterpretation of Shakespeare’s tragedy, examining power, symbolic violence and individual responsibility in a modern urban setting. 
Staged with minimalist scenery and relying on a single actor, acoustic music and sound effects, the production is designed to create an intimate and psychologically charged theatrical experience.
The creative team includes assistant directors Sepehr Rezaei and Yas Yabandehzar, set designer Masoud Tayebi, costume designer Alireza Behrouz, lighting designer Reza Khazraei, mask designer Betsabe Naeimaei, music mixing and mastering by Muhammad Javad Behrooz, photographer Alireza Azarirad, poster designer Muhammad Javad Behrooz, public relations manager Parsa Esmaeili, and executive producer Mise.en.scene Academy of Performing Arts. 
Hamlet the Killer is internationally listed under this English title by the MIT Global Shakespeares archive.
Advance ticket sales for the first three performances are underway through Tiwall, with a 25% introductory discount. Opening night is scheduled for 8:45 p.m. at Hall No. 3 of Mehregan Theater.
Meanwhile, Sara Abedi will launch a new production of The Little Prince at Tehran Theater Complex beginning August 7.
Produced by Arezou Lotfi, the play is adapted from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s classic novella and is based on a stage adaptation by pioneering Iranian playwright Abbas Javanmard, using the renowned Persian translation by Mohammad Ghazi.
The cast includes Vihan Norouzi, Kimia Bagheri, Avin Shavandi, Abolfazl Nasirpour, Nafas Parakouh, Makan Aliyari, Parham Kiani, Aynaz Aghasi, Ali Asghar Ayini, and Andia Enbesati. 
Veteran playwright and director Muhammad Rahmanian serves as artistic adviser. The production team also includes executive producer Barana Children’s and Youth Acting School, production manager Armin Eqrari, executive manager Bashir Elahverdi, stage manager Reyhaneh Aghdasi, set designer Shayan Allahverdi, poster designer Setayesh Afshar Naderi, photographer Parisa Lotfi, and media adviser Muhammad Sadegh Siyadat.
According to the synopsis, the play follows a pilot stranded in a desert who encounters a mysterious boy from a distant asteroid, setting off on a journey through planets, flowers and unforgettable characters that reflects on the values adults have forgotten.
Tickets for The Little Prince will be available through Tiwall and at the Tehran Theater box office from the opening day of performances.