Fajr Award-Winning Play in City Theater

the award-winning Iranian play ‘Tapancheh Khanoum’ (literally meaning ‘Lady Pistol’) directed by Shahbedin Hoseinpur is on stage at City Theater in Tehran.

Written by Mohammad-Amir Yar-Ahmadi, the story is about the 1960s and 70s in Iran and centered on a woman of power called Akhtar-ol-Saltaneh who tries to enhance the culture of her city. By implementing a series of harsh measures she wants to civilize the people by force, literally through guns.

She keeps a collection of pistols, but according to the new state laws, carrying and keeping firearms is prohibited. Her insistence on holding on to her pistols leads to her downfall.

The play was selected as the best performance at the 34th Fajr International Theater Festival and also received the awards for the best director, actress and costume design from the festival, theater.ir reported.

As the director said, the play puts a specific focus on the lighting, makeup and costume design and decor. “Lighting and makeup is rather surreal and the decor has a minimal design. Although our show has no realistic atmosphere but our effort is to make the audience believe it,” Hoseinpur said.

Fariba Motekhases, Arash Falahat-Pisheh, Mohammad Naderi, Gilda Hamidi, Hamid Rahimi, Ghazaleh Jazayeri, Sima Khazaei, Mohammad Sediqi-Mehr, Marzieh Sohrab and Mahda Razazi are in the cast.

As the play has been welcomed by the public, its staging is extended through December 9 at the City Theater located at Daneshjoo Park, junction of Enqelab and Vali-e-Asr Streets.

Due to the strong reception, the play has two performances every night at 6 and 8 pm.