Iranian-American playwright Sanaz Toosi, who gained the Pulitzer Prize for drama final 12 months for his play “English,” a couple of class of English college students in Karaj, west of Tehran, is returning to the London stage with a brand new play. I want you have been right here. “
This comedy-drama, set in Karaj’s front room, depicts the evolving relationships of a bunch of 5 ladies from 1978 to 1991, whose lives and friendships are modified by marriage, loss, and sudden separation after the Iranian revolution. Masu. and the Iran-Iraq battle.
Sanaz Toshi
The manufacturing will premiere off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 2022 and run at London’s Gate Theater till November 23.
Toosi is a New York-based Iranian-American playwright, actor, and director whose work explores themes of id, displacement, and the immigrant expertise. She was born in Tehran, raised in Orange County, California, and earned a BA in Theater from UCLA and an MA in Playwriting from Columbia University.
Wish You Were Here is directed by younger Australian-Iranian playwright and director Seppy Bagei and stars Afsaneh Deroueh (The Granite Port), Mariam Grace (Macbeth, Postcard Killings”), Juliet Motamed, and others are included within the solid. (We Are Ready Parts, Magic Mike’s Last Dance), Isabella Nefar (My English Persian Kitchen, Small City), Emily Rennie (The Power ”, “Honesty”).
Bagai was born and raised in Australia to Iranian dad and mom who fled Iran within the Nineties. Her directorial credit embrace “The Good Iranian” (Rag Entertainment), “Habibti Driver” (Octagon Theatre), and “Sokhan Begoo.” [“Speak Up”] ‘ (Royal Court), ‘Little Women’, ‘Citizen’, ‘Wild Tales’ (The Space), and so forth.
In a latest interview with Kayhan Life, Bagai opened up about his profession, upbringing, and directing “Wish You Were Here.”
“I Wish You Were Here” is a historic drama set in Iran over a 13-year interval beginning in 1978. Growing up in Australia, how uncovered have been you to occasions in your dad and mom’ homeland that occurred lengthy earlier than you have been born, from the 1979 revolution to the US Embassy hostage disaster to the Iran-Iraq battle?
To let you know the reality, I used to be fairly shielded from the realities of Iran’s political state of affairs as a baby. It wasn’t till I used to be actually in my late teenagers that I began studying about revolutions and wars and issues like that. I traveled to Iran as soon as once I was younger and I bear in mind visiting one of many Shah’s palaces and listening to tales concerning the monarchy that after existed in Iran. That’s all I knew about Iranian politics for a few years.
It wasn’t till I noticed the film Persepolis directed by Marjane Satrapi that I began to significantly analysis and study extra about it. It opened my eyes to the occasions that pressured many Iranians to go away their homeland, together with my dad and mom.
The play appears at political oppression by way of the home lens of misplaced love and friendship. Did you hear about that oppression out of your dad and mom, household, or pals while you have been a baby?
I bear in mind listening to tales from my dad and mom about their journey away from Iran, concerning the individuals they left behind and the individuals they met alongside the way in which. Although I had the privilege of rising up peacefully in Australia and now reside within the UK, I’ll by no means really perceive the ache and loss I felt once I left my pals, household and residential towards my will.
But by way of making Wish You Were Here, I really feel like I used to be in a position to faucet into a few of the pleasure, heat and love that my household and so many others like them skilled rising up on this nation. I’ll. Despite the tectonic shifts that occurred in Iran through the interval wherein the play is ready.
What was it like rising up as an Australian-Iranian? Were you rooted in Persian tradition, together with language, delicacies, music, traditions, and celebrations? Although you spent little time in Iran, did your upbringing allow you to perceive Persian tradition and society? ?
I grew up in a household with deep roots in Persian tradition. I used to be taught the language and painted eggs for the normal Hafshin desk that’s set yearly in Nowruz [the Persian New Year]and frolicked with different Iranian households at common Mehmouni [parties]. My household took nice satisfaction in instilling Persian tradition in our house, regardless that we lived on the opposite aspect of the world. I could not have all the time appreciated sure components on the time, however I actually struggled studying to learn and write Persian. –I’m actually grateful now.
What are your reminiscences of Iran? How outdated have been you while you traveled there?
I visited Iran as soon as once I was 8 years outdated. What I bear in mind most are the instances spent sitting at sofrés at household and pals’ properties. [dining table]had an exquisite home-cooked meal, met a lot of cousins, uncles, and aunts, and noticed snow for the primary time. I used to be very younger, however once I discovered I used to be coming right here, I bear in mind feeling like I used to be going house or someplace I wanted to go. It was a surreal expertise on the time, however wanting again on it years later, it is bittersweet.
Given your already prolific 10-year profession as a playwright, assistant director and director, how would you describe the expertise of directing Sanaz Tussi’s play Wish You Were Here?
The expertise of directing Wish You Were Here was one in all immense satisfaction and pushed me to dig deeper when it comes to the emotional weight it carries. This play is humorous and transferring in equal measure. I’m a giant fan of tales that use humor as a way to assist the viewers entry extra necessary themes and questions. I feel Sanaz did an important job of inviting the viewers right into a aspect of Iran and Iranian ladies that’s hardly ever seen on stage. Her characters are heat, loud, daring, complicated, courageous, messy, enjoyable, and most of all, loving. And they’re deeply relatable, irrespective of the place you come from or what you consider. So I hope that the viewers goes away seeing a slice of the lives of the ladies who’re among the many characters in Wish You Were Here.
Did you select the 5 solid members your self?
It was a pleasure working with casting director Nadine Rennie to place the solid collectively. Each of those ladies has Iranian heritage, and as a solid, they symbolize what I consider to be one of the vital stunning elements of Iran. In different phrases, we’re a various nation, with many various ethnicities, faiths, languages, and traits amongst us. All of those actors have been very busy on stage and in motion pictures currently.