TEHRAN -- Two productions are currently drawing attention on Tehran’s independent theatre scene, with Anna at Simorgh Theatre and This Round I Play at Iran Art Boutique.
Written by Solmaz Keykhai and Sajjad Hassanvand, directed by Hassanvand, and produced by Fariba Torkashvand, Anna is being staged at Simorgh Theatre in Tehran.
The production centers on a French scientist and researcher working at the outbreak of the Second World War. As the threat of war grows, she becomes increasingly concerned with the possible destruction of human emotions and embarks on a mysterious project that gradually transforms both her personal life and her understanding of the world.
The production is performed as a solo work by Solmaz Keykhai, whose performance is at the center of the play’s exploration of emotion, human vulnerability and the psychological consequences of war. 
Hassanvand has also described Keykhai’s contribution to the writing process as an important part of the development of the production.
The creative team includes Siavash Jameh as directing consultant, Mohaddeseh Salehi as photographer, and Amir Khanzadeh as public relations manager.
Meanwhile, Iran Art Boutique is hosting This Round I Play, directed by Abolfazl Aliari and written by Sanaz Larki. The production is presented by Setareh 8 Studio.
 The play follows Lena, a young woman who wakes in an unfamiliar and unsettling place surrounded by mysterious people she does not recognize. She has only 24 hours to uncover the secret of the strange location. A man who appears to be her doctor may hold the key to solving the mystery.
The two productions pursue distinct dramatic territories: Anna uses a solo performance to explore emotion, scientific ambition and the human consequences of war, while I Play These Two builds its narrative around mystery, confinement and a race against time.