Play's opening in Iran may help rebuild trust after war

AN AWARD-winning Fringe play based on the diary of a Palestinian writer is being staged in Iran.

When the Bulbul Stopped Singing was adapted by Scotland’s leading contemporary playwright, David Greig, for the Traverse Theatre .

The cast and crew travel to Tehran this week to play at the International Fadjr Theatre Festival in a trip backed by the British Council.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

It follows the trip to Iran by the Dundee Rep company in 2003 - the first cultural exchange between the UK and Iran in 20 years.

The US-based group, Human Rights Watch, this week denounced an Iranian Revolutionary Court order threatening the arrest of the Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi.

The group has recently highlighted the arrests of web-loggers and journalists by the Iranian authorities.

But Mr Greig said any cultural ties could help reduce the bitter "distrust and suspicion" aimed at Britain in the wake of the Iraq war.

When The Bulbul Stopped Singing is based on the diaries of the Palestinian writer, Rajah Shehadeh, during the Israeli invasion of the Palestinian city of Ramallah.

The one-man show, starring Christopher Simon, won several awards at the Fringe in 2004, including the Amnesty International Freedom of Expression Award and a Stage magazine nomination for best actor.

Despite its sensitive subject matter, the play was praised by one reviewer in the Jewish Telegraph for its calm performance of a "matter-of-fact" text.

Mr Greig, who is expected to work closely with the new National Theatre of Scotland, said he would always speak up for human rights.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Mr Simon said: "Having the opportunity to do it in Iran is both apt and indeed special. I really hope and believe that Bulbul will be received and understood in the way that it has been intended, as a cry for peace."

The director of the British Council Scotland, Michael Bird, said: "We are delighted to see opportunities for cultural relations open up between Scotland and Iran."