Evidence of dramatic performances in ancient Persian literature and archaeological findings suggests that theatre in Iran has a long and storied past. Theatrical performances in Iran have long been seen as culturally significant, serving as a forum for both amusement and social/political criticism.
Persian theatre has evolved considerably in response to shifting historical, social, and cultural conditions. Persian theatre has developed over time, from classical Persian theatre to contemporary performance art, mirroring the hopes and dreams of its people.
This article aims to offer a survey of Persian theatre, including its origins and development from ancient times to the current day. Persian theatre in all its forms will be examined, as will the key people and historical moments that affected the art form across time.
We hope that by delving into these topics, you will develop a deeper appreciation for the cultural legacy of Persian theatre, its significance to Persian art and literature, and its influence on modern theatre in the Middle East and beyond.
Here we shall explore the evolution of the Iranian stage from its Persian roots to the present day. The social and cultural environments in which these significant personalities and movements evolved will be investigated. We hope that at the end of this article, you will have a good sense of the interesting history of Persian theatre, for further information you can also check Persian cinema.
Pre-Islamic Era
Iran’s theatre tradition goes all the way back to the time of the ancient Persian Empire, during the pre-Islamic era. Traditional Persian theatre has a long and distinguished history, and its practitioners have contributed greatly to the development of the country’s culture through the years. We shall examine the pre-Islamic period of Persian theatre and its impact on Persian culture.
There had a long history of drama, music, and dance in Iran before Islam was introduced. The Persian kings’ court was the first venue for what would become known as “Persian theatre,” an art form created to entertain the nobility. Palaces fit for kings and queens hosted performances that were attended by the upper crust.
Puppet shows, shadow plays, and enactments of epic tales were all common in pre-Islamic Iran’s theatre scene. Puppetry was widely practiced in ancient Persia, and puppets were frequently used in performances. Live music and singing often accompanied public performances of puppet shows, which took place in public squares.
In shadow theatre, often called shadow puppetry, elaborate puppets were fashioned out of leather or paper and hung from the ceiling. Each figurine was held up to a light source, casting a shadow onto a screen or wall. During the Safavid dynasty, shadow puppetry was employed to recreate classic Persian tales like the epic of Amir Arsalan.
In pre-Islamic Iran, dramatic storytelling was another common type of theatre. In this style of theatre, a storyteller would recite a tale as actors acted it out. The Shahnameh, an epic poem that recounts the history of ancient Persia, and other traditional Persian tales were often acted out in dramatic performances.
The theatre had many important roles in pre-Islamic Persian culture. The theatre served not just as a kind of amusement for the ruling class but also as a tool for popular education. Traditional Persian stories were an integral element of Iranian culture, and they were frequently utilized to impart moral teachings to their audiences.
In conclusion, Persian theatre during the time before Islam was a vibrant and creative medium. Puppetry, shadow theatre, and dramatic storytelling were all significant parts of Iranian culture, serving both as entertainment and educational tools for the community. Traditional types of theatre are still performed and honored across Iran, demonstrating the lasting impact of pre-Islamic theatre on modern Iranian society.
Islamic Era
During the Islamic era, Persian theatre was heavily influenced by cultural and religious traditions. The theatrical scene in Iran underwent a significant transformation after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, resulting in a renewed interest in traditional Persian theatre.
One of the most notable forms of Persian theatre during this era was Ta’zieh, which is a religious drama that depicts the martyrdom of Imam Husayn, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Ta’zieh is performed during the month of Muharram and is regarded as a sacred event in Persian culture. It is performed in various regions across the country, with each region showcasing its unique style of the Ta’zieh performance.
Additionally, puppetry was a popular form of Persian theatre during the Islamic era. Puppetry has a long-standing history in Iran and was used to convey religious and moral messages. Iranian puppet theatre is renowned for its intricate puppets, elaborate stage designs, and musical accompaniments.
Overall, Islamic theatre in Iran was a dynamic and vibrant art form that has undergone significant changes over time. It continues to be a crucial part of Iranian culture and is still evolving to this day.
Changes in the theatre during the Islamic period
The dramatic landscape of Iran changed when Islam arrived in the seventh century. Throughout this historical period, Islamic teachings and values profoundly affected the content, style, and execution of theatre. Indecent or immoral depictions of the human body and behavior were banned. As a result, Islamic teachings were incorporated into newly developed forms of theatrical expression.
The Islamic Era saw the development of a number of distinct theatrical styles, one of the most significant being Ta’zieh, a religious play honoring the death of Imam Hussein, the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson. Ta’zieh, from the Arabic word for “mourning” or “lamentation,” is a significant aspect of Iranian culture and is practiced throughout the month of Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar. The actors dress up in extravagant costumes and utilize makeup, music, and poetry to convey the story of Imam Hussein’s martyrdom.
During this time, Islamic theatre expanded to include Ta’zieh, puppetry, and shadow plays. By educating and entertaining audiences, these theatrical practices frequently addressed moral and religious precepts.
The emergence of Ta’ziyeh and its impact on Persian theatre
Like with many other aspects of Persian culture, the theatre scene evolved greatly during the Islamic Era. Ta’ziyeh, an ancient Persian type of theatre, emerged during this time period and is known for its depiction of the events leading up to Imam Hussain’s martyrdom (the Prophet Muhammad’s grandson). Ta’ziyeh performances are an essential aspect of Shia religious devotion and are often held during the Islamic month of Muharram.
The Safavid dynasty of Iran, which ruled from 750 to 1188, is widely credited as the birthplace of Ta’ziyeh performances. Music, dance, and dramatic narrative all became a part of the tradition over time. While the stage design is often spare to not distract from the players’ performances, the costumes and props used in these productions are often elaborate.
The Iranian form of theatre known as ta’ziyeh has significantly influenced the evolution of other styles of Persian performance. Art has also been crucial in documenting and preserving Iranian history and culture, especially that which surrounds Imam Hussain’s death.
Both within Iran and among Iranian communities abroad, Ta’ziyeh has recently seen a resurgence of attention. There have been many efforts by theatrical groups and cultural organizations to popularise and preserve the art form for future generations. Ta’ziyeh is a significant representation of Iranian national pride and a key component of Iran’s theatrical legacy even now.
The role of religion in Persian theatre
There was a strong emphasis on religious themes in Islamic Era Persian theatre. Traditional styles of theatre suffered major transformations as Islam swept over the region. Muslim ethics and ideas were woven into the plots and characters of the plays.
Ta’ziyeh, a style of passion drama that reenacts the sad events of the battle of Karbala in 680 AD, evolved as one of the most prominent genres of theatre at this time. Ta’ziyeh is an integral aspect of Persian theatre that has been performed since the Qajar era. Its origins can be traced back to the Safavid dynasty.
Throughout the Islamic Era, religion also impacted the subject matter and themes of other genres of theatre. The stage was a common place for the retelling of religious and historical narratives, such as the stories of the Prophet Muhammad and the Shia Imams. The shows were meant to impart knowledge and understanding of Islam to the spectators.
More than that, though, the theatre was frequently employed as a medium for addressing political and social issues. In the Persian theatre of this time period, it was usual to depict villainous figures like corrupt or immoral kings. For fear of retribution or censorship, such criticism was frequently couched in allegory or metaphor.
The influence of Iranian literature on theatre
During the Islamic period in Iran, several new literary forms appeared, some of which later served as models for theatrical productions. Ancient Iranian literature has had a major impact on modern Iranian theatre. Poets and writers from the Islamic Era contributed to the development of Iranian theatre by writing works that were later adapted for the stage.
The Shahnameh, an epic poem composed by the Persian poet Ferdowsi in the 10th century, was one of the most influential literary forms of Iranian theatre. Heroic themes and dramatic events from the Shahnameh provided inspiration for many plays, and the narrative and characters from the epic were frequently adapted for the theatre.
The plays of Iran’s great poet Hafez also enormously impacted the country’s stage. Many playwrights have been moved by Hafez’s poetry to use mystical elements of Persian culture in their own works. Musical dramas and puppet performances are only two examples of the many ways that Hafez’s poetry has been adapted for the theatre.
The ghazal, a kind of Persian poetry, is another influential literary genre that has impacted Iranian theatre. The ghazal was an integral part of classical Persian theatre, and it was frequently modified for musical plays.
Iranian poets Saadi and Rumi, among others, also had a major impact on the development of Iranian theatre. Persian poetry’s enduring relevance to Iranian theatre can be seen in the way its themes and motifs inform modern productions.
Qajar Era
Significant cultural and social shifts occurred in Iran during the Qajar era, which spanned from the late 18th century until the early 20th century. During this time, Persian theatre developed further in response to new circumstances. While the Qajar Era was a watershed moment in Persian history, it was also a watershed moment for the country’s theatre. During this dynasty, the authority of the old elites dwindled while that of the merchant class and the new middle class grew. The Persian theatre scene responded to the rise of a new middle class and the accompanying shift in power dynamics by tackling issues of social and economic inequality.
As the Qajar Dynasty ruled Iran, the country’s theatre scene mirrored the rapid social and political transformations onstage. Traditional forms of the theatre were reimagined in light of the changed conditions of life in contemporary Iran, and new topics and genres were introduced. There was also a profound effect on Persian theatre at this time, from the introduction of modern theatre procedures and the influence of Western theatre. Cities like Tehran saw a proliferation of brand-new theatres, which quickly gained prominence as cultural hubs and attracted visitors from far and wide. Qajar-era Iran was a moment of theatrical experimentation that set the way for the country’s current, vibrant theatre community.
The emergence of modern Persian theatre
In the Qajar period, when Western-style theatres were imported to Iran, modern Persian theatre developed. In 1904, a group of Iranian intellectuals and artists who had been to Europe and been influenced by contemporary theatre founded the City Theatre of Tehran, the country’s first such venue. Originally, the theatre put on French comedies and operettas, but it also started producing Persian plays.
As a result of the development of contemporary Iranian theatre, numerous new theatre companies and theatre training programs have sprouted up around the country. At this time period, Azerbaijani playwright and scholar Mirza Fatali Akhundov was one of the most consequential figures in Iran. Some of Akhundov’s plays, written in both Azerbaijani and Persian, were critically praised and instrumental in introducing a new literary tradition to the Iranian stage.
Puppet theatre flourished throughout the Qajar dynasty and became a popular form of entertainment for both children and adults. Persian folktales and mythology served as the inspiration for musical and dance-filled puppet shows. Around this time, Hajji Aqa Jamshid Kashani became one of the most well-known puppeteers when he pioneered a kind of puppet theatre that fused elements of classical Iranian puppetry with those of Western stagecraft and lighting.
Key figures and works of the Qajar Era
Some influential people throughout the Qajar Era laid the groundwork for contemporary Iranian theatre. Mirza Aqa Khan Kermani, often called the “founder of modern Iranian theatre,” stands out. Kermani, an actor and playwright, penned several works that broached contemporary social and political concerns. His most well-known piece, an adaptation of Goethe’s classic “The Sorrows of Young Werther,” premiered in Tehran in 1874 and became an instant hit.
Ali-Naqi Vaziri, a composer and playwright, was also a significant personality during the Qajar dynasty. Vaziri’s most famous work is an opera called “Rostam and Sohrab,” which is based on a story from the Shahnameh. The opera’s debut in 1927 ushered in a new period of prosperity for Persiantheatre.
Mirza Fatali Akhundov, Abbas Mirza Khalkhali, and Seyed Hossein Sedigh are just a few of the other notable authors and actors from the Qajar era who stands beside Kermani and Vaziri. The struggle for democracy and modernity in Iran was just one of the many social, political, and cultural topics that these figures wrote about and performed plays about.
The Qajar era’s most influential artists ushered in a new era of Persian theatre with their groundbreaking works, which broke away from classical theatrical conventions while also introducing innovative techniques and ideas. They laid the groundwork for the continuous growth of modern Persian theatre in the 20th century through their works, which contributed to establishing theatre as a significant art form in Iran.
The influence of European theatre on Persian theatre during this period
There was a notable influx of European theatre into Qajar-era Iran, which had its own flourishing theatre scene. Political and cultural relations between Iran and European countries at the time were primary factors in this impact. The introduction of European theatrical traditions like realism and naturalism had a significant impact on the growth of contemporary Iranian performance art.
Mirza Fatali Akhundzadeh was a pivotal contributor to bringing European theatre to Iran. Azerbaijani writer and playwright Akhundzadeh spent time in Russia, where he was exposed to the works of Russian playwrights like Anton Chekhov. Halfway through the 19th century, he went back to Iran and started composing plays that borrowed heavily from European theatrical conventions.
Playwrights like Mirza Ibrahim Khan Sahab and others in Iran have also dabbled in European theatre techniques. French vaudeville was popular in Europe at the time when Sahab wrote “Haji Firuz,” and this form had a significant impact on the playwright. Success was so great that the play was staged in numerous Iranian cities.
European theatre profoundly impacted Qajar-era Persian theatrical in more ways than one. Around this time, innovations like electric lights were first used in the theatre. Foreign performers and theatre companies have started making trips to Iran to show off their wares to the country’s burgeoning theatre scene.
Qajar period Persian theatre managed to keep its distinct cultural identity despite heavy European influence. Several Iranian plays were staged in traditional Iranian venues like caravanserais and tea shops, and their topics and subject matter remained heavily influenced by Persian literature and mythology.
Pahlavi Era
The Pahlavi dynasty, which ruled Iran from 1925 to 1979, was a watershed moment in the history of Iranian drama. Significant political, social, and cultural shifts were happening during this period, all of which affected the performing arts.
Under Reza Shah and his son Mohammad Reza Shah, the Pahlavi dynasty attempted to bring Iran into the modern era and closer to the West. A number of new cultural, social, and political policies were implemented during this time in Iran, and their effects may be seen in the dramatic arts to this day. The government supported the performing arts in an effort to foster a sense of national pride, and the theatre eventually became an essential medium for spreading the regime’s ideology.
Commercial theatre flourished throughout the Pahlavi period, giving rise to independent performing arts groups. These businesses aimed to create plays that would earn a profit and appeal to a wide audience. These productions frequently addressed universal human experiences like love and marriage as well as Western playwrights’ versions of such subjects. Commercial theatre spawned a new breed of professional actors and directors who greatly advanced Iran’s theatre scene.
The introduction of cinema during the Pahlavi era had a significant impact on Persian theatre. The government recognized the film industry’s potential as a means of promoting national pride and technological development. As the popularity of movies grew to rival that of live stage productions, many theatres were converted into movie houses. Nonetheless, some directors and actors from the theatre profession began working in the film industry, which helped to break down barriers between the two.
The Pahlavi period saw the rise of several influential actors and directors who would forever alter the face of Persian theatre. Bahram Beyzai, the famous Persian actor and dramatist, was one of them. The plays of Beyzai, who aimed to build a new type of Persian theatre that was at once modern and thoroughly rooted in its cultural past, were influenced by traditional Persian theatre and typically dealt with historical and mythological themes. Two additional examples of famous people from the Pahlavi era are the actors and directors Fereydoun Farrokhzad and Parviz Sayyad.
Persian theatre went through a period of significant evolution under the reign of the Pahlavi dynasty. Commercial theatre’s rise, the introduction of the film, and the government’s efforts to employ the performing arts in nationalist and modernist propaganda are all linked to Iran’s theatrical past. At this time, several influential people appeared, including Bahram Beyzai, who is often credited with establishing the canon of contemporary Iranian drama.
References of History of Persian Theatre: A Journey Through Time
- Shayegan, Daryush. The Oxford Handbook of Iranian History. Oxford University Press, 2012.
- Banani, Amin. The Modernization of Iran, 1921-1941. Stanford University Press, 1961.
- Al-e Ahmad, Jalal. Occidentosis: A Plague from the West. Translated by R. Campbell, Routledge, 2015.
- Simpson, Marianna. “Theatre in Iran.” The Drama Review: TDR, vol. 11, no. 3, 1967, pp. 84–91. JSTOR.
- Nasr, Seyyed Hossein. Islamic Art and Spirituality. SUNY Press, 1987.
- Sadr, Hamid. Iranian Cinema: A Political History. I.B. Tauris, 2006.
- Hillmann, Michael C. “The Development of the Persian Play.” Iranian Studies, vol. 4, no. 4, 1971, pp. 177–190. JSTOR.
- Bahari, Ehsan. “Ta’ziyeh in Iran.” Iranian Studies, vol. 7, no. 1, 1974, pp. 18–28. JSTOR.
- Ghanoonparvar, Mohammad R. “Theater in Iran: Its Origin and Development.” Theatre Research International, vol. 2, no. 1, 1976, pp. 49–61. Cambridge University Press, doi:10.1017/S0307883300001712.
- Keshavarz, Fatemeh. Jasmine and Stars: Reading More than Lolita in Tehran. The University of North Carolina Press, 2007.
