 |
THE VEIL |
| Debut November 2007, Halifax and Toronto | |
Written and Directed by Shahin Sayadi – based on Masoud Behnoud’s Khanoom Set Design by Shahin Sayadi with Jim Morrow / Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia Costume design by D’Arcy Morris-Poultney Lighting design by Shahin Sayadi and Michael Mader Sound design by Brian Buckle Stage Manager: Hilary Graham Cast: Lara Arabian, Valerie Buhagiar, Marty Burt, Nadiya Chettiar, Pasha Ebrahimi, Genevieve Steele Other: Tarek Abouamin (photography, animation) Jim Morrow (puppet-maker), Jake Dambergs (projections, props, design) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
|
January 2009, Halifax and Iran Tour Stage Manager: Eleanor Creelman Cast: Sarah Kitz, Deena Aziz, Marty Burt, Nadiya Chettiar, Ari Millen, Genevieve Steele . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . September 2009, Canada Tour Stage Manager: Michael Mader Cast: Sarah Kitz, Valerie Buhagiar, Marty Burt, Nadiya Chettiar, Ari Millen, Genevieve Steele . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . |
See her world from behind the veil... |
| Experience a Persian princess's epic journey from the palace harem to Europe where she survives personal and political traumas, and her return to Iran, a country to be forever changed by revolution. Written by Shahin Sayadi, based on Masoud Behnoud’s epic novel Khanoom, The Veil tells the story of one woman’s powerful struggle to survive the most turbulent events of the 20th century (see full synopsis below). Rich with the music and arts of the East and West, this Onelight Theatre production had its successful debut at Neptune Theatre's Studio in Halifax, Nova Scotia in Fall 2007 and then toured to The Harbourfront Centre Studio Theatre in Toronto. Now we are about to embark on a ground-breaking tour to participate in the Fadjr Theatre Festival in Tehran, Iran. The Veil is an award winning Onelight Theatre production, developed in association with Neptune Theatre and Mermaid Theatre of Nova Scotia. Shahin Sayadi developed the script with assistance from Playwrights' Workshop Montreal and the Banff Playwright’s Colony. Original costume design for The Veil was by D’Arcy Morris-Poultney. The Veil is a slightly fictionalized account of the exceptional life experiences and survival of a Persian princess, Khanoom. It is the story of one woman’s changing perspective of the world, religion, politics and relationships, but most importantly, it is about her changing perspective of herself and her place in the world. In the story, as she journeys from her homeland to Europe, and from childhood to adult life, her perspective of both the world and herself grows and changes. The story is both an epic tale which sweeps through modern history and an intimate portrait of one woman’s journey from an insulated childhood, to a rebellious youth, to a grown woman who must make a place for herself in a world that is entirely different from her own and which is, itself, in constant flux. The story begins in the segregated palaces of the Persian Shah Ghajar; Khanoom was a princess whose life was ruled by traditional class and gender expectations. Women of her status, while well-educated, and well-kept, were expected to live a life of seclusion, marry upon arrangement, and obey the property and civil laws that left them second class citizens. Her ‘traditional’ life was supplemented by tutelage in feminist ideology by a rebel aunt; her closest friend. Compellingly, Khanoom and her aunt, despite their opposition to the status quo, are also the Shah’s favorites within the extended household of wives, mistresses and children. During the Persian Constitutional Revolution, although Khanoom and her aunt secretly supported the anti-monarchist constitutionalists, Khanoom is forced to flee to Russia along with the rest of the royal family. Thus begins a life of upheaval that sees Khanoom move to Turkey, Italy, France and Germany, has her wed twice, lose her fortune, become disowned by the royal family, and experience the political strife that marked 20th century Europe- revolutions, fascism, and war. In the end, believing that she has been widowed, she returns to her homeland, now Iran, and moves into a house that belongs to her childhood servants. The story of Khanoom, is both an epic tale which sweeps through modern history, and an intimate portrait of one woman’s journey from an insulated childhood, to a rebellious youth, to a grown woman who must make a place for herself in a world that is entirely different from her own and which is, itself, in constant flux. What is fascinating about Khanoom’s story is not only that she survives, but that she is able to find peace both with her adopted, Western home, and her abandoned Eastern birthplace. In the end, despite taking on many of the political and social philosophies of the West, it is Iran that she returns to live. |
|
 |
|
 |
