“I can’t imagine that allowing more performances by youthful artists would upset veterans since all of them can easily perform their plays and have their following,” he told the Tehran Times on Tuesday.
His play “The Paper House”, which concerns the destructive social consequences of war, went on stage at the Mehr Hall of Tehran’s Art Bureau during 28th Fajr International Theater Festival on Tuesday.
Emerging artists face several problems including restrictions imposed by the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance on performances as well as financial difficulties which could be solved by an increased level of support from the private sector or even the state, he mentioned.
The play from the western city of Kermanshah went on stage at the Select Regional Theater during the festival.
“The bitter fact is that plays from cities other than the capital do not have the privilege of participating in the competition section. Why shouldn’t artists from other cities be able to perform their works in the competition section to be seen by a larger audience?” he lamented.
In Tehran, the theatrical arts face many problems but in other cities, there are even more. No encouragement exists for troupes in those places and self-motivation is the sole reason behind any successes, he said.
“Unfortunately, there are no facilities in other cities for rehearsals or performances,” he said.
While salaries are not high in Tehran, there is a huge gap between them and the wages paid in outlying cities, he added.
Officials can help plays from other cities by introducing them at the festival so that they can continue their work in Tehran or with other professional troupes, he said.
“One of our main concerns is to have public performances in Tehran,” Borumand said.
Troupes from other cities do not enjoy the right to have stands at the Iranian Theater Market.
“Many people prefer to see well-known plays by renowned artists and this is not their fault. It is the responsibility of the media to introduce new works to people,” Borumand added.
The play narrates the story of a couple in a war-torn border city who question themselves about the meaning of “life” on the 30th anniversary of their marriage and discover that their life is devoid of meaning.
“I do believe that the despotic nature of war always exists. People always suffer in wars, which are imposed by political powers upon them,” he explained about his motivation for choosing the drama.
“I lived in Kermanshah near the Iraq border during the Iran-Iraq war and I have some bitter memories of those days when I was a child,” he said.
Borumand went on to say that he uses paradox during the performance and mixes the bitter truth of war with fantasy to connect with audience.
“‘Theater for all’ is a motto that I hope becomes a reality some day. I do my best in my play to attract casual audiences and theatergoers alike,” Borumand added.
The play, warmly welcomed by audiences, attracts them by the caricature-like narration of the bitter experience of war as well as the fantastic performances by the actors.
With the motto of “Theater for All”, the 28th Fajr International Theater Festival is currently underway at Tehran halls and will continue until January 31.
By Setareh Behroozi
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