New Productions, Strong Sales Mark Iranian Theater Week

Date: 21 June 2026 - 23:05

News ID: ۱۵۱۱۷۴

TEHRAN -- Tehran’s performing arts sector recorded combined box office revenues exceeding 1.05 billion tomans across five active productions, alongside a series of institutional events, new premieres, and extended runs in the capital’s major theater venues, according to official statistics released through June 18.
Among the most commercially successful productions, “Bi-Houdeh” (“Futile”) led overall earnings with more than 414 million tomans from 26 performances at Qashqai Hall, drawing 1,827 spectators.
“Abri ba Ehtemal-e Rizesh-e Baran” (“Cloudy with a Chance of Rain”), staged at Charsou Hall, concluded its run after 31 performances and over 1,100 attendees, generating approximately 242 million tomans.
Other notable productions included “Azhdahak” at the Theater Workshop, which attracted 1,617 audience members, and “Babayi Bekhand” (“Smile, Dad”) and “Derakht-e Gilas” (“Cherry Tree”) at the Honar Hall, both contributing steadily to overall attendance figures.
Collectively, the five productions attracted more than 5,300 theatergoers, reflecting sustained audience engagement across mid-size and institutional venues in Tehran’s professional theater circuit.
In parallel programming at the City Theater of Tehran, the fifth edition of “Friday at City Theater” (Jomeh-ha-ye Theater Shahr) was held during the mourning period of Imam Hussein (AS).
The program featured a screening of the documentary “Tamrin-e Akhar” (“The Final Rehearsal”), directed by the late Iranian filmmaker Nasser Taghvaei.
The event included a panel discussion addressing Taghvaei’s contributions to Iranian cinema and his engagement with traditional performance forms, particularly Ta’zieh (Iranian passion play).
Speakers emphasized Ta’zieh as a foundational element of Iran’s intangible cultural heritage, while also noting its underrepresentation in academic infrastructure and institutional preservation efforts. Discussions highlighted the need for expanded archival systems, research frameworks, and cultural policy support to sustain the tradition.
Elsewhere in Tehran’s independent theater circuit, productions at the Nofel Loshato Theater venue include “Zaar,” “Torop-e Tarab,” and “Selool” (“Cell”) with “Selool” continuing an extended run following more than 90 performances. At the Iran Shahr Theater complex, “Sho’leh-ha-ye Sarkash-e Tariki” (“Fierce Flames of Darkness”), written by Antonio Buero Vallejo and directed by Houshang Honarvar, has opened with a large ensemble cast.
At the Iranian Artists’ House, “Viran-Tan” (“Ruined Body”), a monodrama directed by Alireza Akhavan, has begun performances exploring themes of loss, memory, and emotional rupture through a minimalist narrative form.
Finally, the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance announced the call for submissions to the 10th International Popular Theater Festival of the Arbaeen Pilgrimage (Revayat-e Rahiyan), scheduled for August 2026. The festival will feature Ta’zieh, street performance, mobile theater, puppetry, and ritual storytelling along pilgrimage routes in Iraq, integrating artistic production with religious-cultural practice.
The deadline for submissions is July 16, with accepted groups set to depart from the Shalamcheh border crossing.