Iranian theatrical experiment touches Koreans

By Kwon Mee-yoo

“Nassim,” a critically acclaimed play written by Iranian playwright and conscientious objector Nassim Soleimanpour, challenges the usual stage play format.

Normally a performer rehearses a work in preparation for a performance in front of an audience, memorizing the script and practicing stage movements over and over.

“Nassim,” currently on stage at Space 111 of Doosan Art Center in downtown Seoul, is performed each night by a different actor without the actor rehearsing or even reading the script beforehand.

Each night, the actor opens a box on the stage and starts to read the script in the box, following the playwright's directions.

The audiences and actors alike do not know what the script is about or what will happen in the 75 minutes that follow. That extemporaneousness breathes tension and freshness into each show, while keeping the playwright's message intact.

For the Korean production, 21 actors active both on stage and screen decided to brave the unknown.

The list of actors in Korea who have already performed or will perform "Nassim" is star-studded, including Han Ye-ri of "Sea Fog," Jin Seon-kyu of "The Outlaws," Park Hae-soo of "Prison Playbook," Moon So-ri of "A Good Lawyer's Wife" and Oh Man-seok of "Hedwig and the Angry Inch."

This is not Soleimanpour's first attempt at staging a play without rehearsals but with new actors each time.

Another of his plays, "White Rabbit Red Rabbit," was performed in Korea last year as part of the Seoul Performing Arts Festival. It was acclaimed for its novel format and profound exploration of humanity, politics and society.

Soleimanpour couldn't leave Iran because he was banned from traveling abroad due to his refusal to take part in mandatory military service, so he had to send his script out to the world by mail. The play has been translated into over 20 languages and played in various parts of the world, a new actor each night lending voice to the playwright.

However, it has never been performed in Farsi, his own language.

So the Iranian playwright decided to make the actors and audiences speak his own language, exploring how language divides and unites people. “Nassim” premiered at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in 2017.

"Nassim" is part of the Doosan Humanities Theater 2018 "Altruist," the theater's annual thematic program. The play goes well with the theme since language is the first thing we need to understand to care for others.

Unlike when he had to just send out the script, Soleimanpour is now based in Berlin and can travel freely. He is now in Korea and watches and participates in the play named after him each night, by turning the pages of the script projected onto a screen and even offering a cup of tea to the actors.

He thinks in Farsi and speaks in English and it is translated into Korean for the actor.

The actor and audiences will learn Farsi from the play and teach some Korean words to the playwright, creating a friendly dialogue. Those who have performed and watched "Nassim" will not forget some Farsi words they had never heard before.

“Nassim” runs until April 29. Visit doosanartcenter.com for more information.