Nightmares and Memories of a Bath Attendant: The Life and Murder of Amir Kabir
Director: Ali Rafiei
Playwright: Ali Rafiei in collaboration with Mohammad Charmshir
Overview
Originally staged in 1977 at Tehran City Theatre, this play recounts the life of Mirza Taqi Khan Farahani, a reformist politician who was ultimately exiled and assassinated in a bathhouse. Ali Rafiei’s 2015 revival re-invigorated the production with innovative stagecraft, presenting a fully constructed bathhouse on stage to immerse the audience into the mental landscape of the Bath Attendant, the story’s narrator. The use of impressionistic scenes reflects key historical moments, emphasizing that the collective memory of ordinary people often captures history more authentically than formal records. This perspective underscores the importance of personal narratives as crucial testimonies of political and social change.
My Insights
Originally staged in 1977 at Tehran City Theatre, this play recounts the life of Mirza Taqi Khan Farahani, a reformist politician who was ultimately exiled and assassinated in a bathhouse. Ali Rafiei’s 2015 revival re-invigorated the production with innovative stagecraft, presenting a fully constructed bathhouse on stage to immerse the audience into the mental landscape of the Bath Attendant, the story’s narrator. The use of impressionistic scenes reflects key historical moments, emphasizing that the collective memory of ordinary people often captures history more authentically than formal records. This perspective underscores the importance of personal narratives as crucial testimonies of political and social change.
Venues & Dates
- Vahdat Hall – November and December 2015
- Fadjr International Theatre Festival (FITF), Tehran, Iran – Featured in the 34th International Category – January 2016
Cast
- Siamak Safari
- Mehdi Soltani
- Maryam Saadat
- Mostafa Sasani
- Nasrin Derakhshanzadeh
- Sara Rasoulzadeh
- Forough Ghajabagli
- Zoheir Yari
- Abbas Jamali
Creative Team
- Costume Designers: Ali Rafiei, Manouchehr Shoja, and Shima Mirhamidi
- Composer: Fardin Khalatbari
- Lighting Designers: Reza Khazraie and Touraj Aslani
- Make-up Artist: Saeid Malekan
- Poster and Brochure Designer: Farhad Fozouni (STUDIO TEHRAN)
- Photographer: Reza Mousavi
- Media Consultant and Public Relations Manager: Fariborz Daraei
- Media and Virtual Marketing: Amir Ghalichi
- Assistant Directors: Hamid Pourazari, Mehrdad Ziaei, Ashkan Kheilnejad, Zaman Vafajooie
- Assistant Playwright: Leila Hekmatnia
- Script Supervisor: Shima Moradi
- Stage Managers: Ghasem Ghazanfari, Amir Akhavan, Hajar Poursina, Ebrahim Naseri, Amirsepehr Taghilou, Ali Abdolahi
Duration
140 Minutes
Impact
- Number of Performances: 35
- Audience Attendance: Approximately 25,000
Production
- Project Executive: Majid Giyahchi
- Producer: Ali Rafiei