logo
Shakespeare's King Lear with rock music, light show in reimagining by Iranian director

Shakespeare's King Lear with rock music, light show in reimagining by Iranian director

An Iranian director is breathing new life into William Shakespeare's King Lear with a bold staging in Tehran infused with rock music and a dazzling light show to attract younger audiences.
Advertisement
In Iran, artists, writers, filmmakers, musicians and playwrights must walk a tightrope to avoid censorship of content the authorities deem inappropriate.
But despite political tensions between Tehran and the West, many international works still make it to the Iranian stage.
Now, well-known actress Elika Abdolrazzaghi has taken on the challenge of reimagining King Lear for a contemporary audience.
'If I had staged the original version, it would have been too heavy for people – they would have been bored,' the 45-year-old said.
Abdolrazzaghi says that she turned many word-heavy sections of the play into movement, imagery, music and dance. Photo: AFP
To inject energy into the performance, Abdolrazzaghi has incorporated music from British rock band Muse and German industrial metal group Rammstein.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Israel mobilises 60,000 reservists to seize Gaza City, heaping pressure on Hamas
Israel mobilises 60,000 reservists to seize Gaza City, heaping pressure on Hamas

South China Morning Post

time4 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Israel mobilises 60,000 reservists to seize Gaza City, heaping pressure on Hamas

Israel's defence minister has approved a plan for the conquest of Gaza City and authorised the call-up of around 60,000 reservists to carry it out, his ministry confirmed on Wednesday. Advertisement Defence Minister Israel Katz's move piled pressure on Hamas as mediators pushing for a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war in Gaza awaited an official Israeli response on their latest proposal. While mediator Qatar had expressed guarded optimism over the latest proposal, a senior Israeli official said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages in any agreement. The framework that Hamas had approved proposes an initial 60-day truce, a staggered hostage release, the freeing of some Palestinian prisoners and provisions allowing for the entry of aid into Gaza. Israel and Hamas have held on-and-off indirect negotiations throughout the war, resulting in two short truces during which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners. Advertisement The latest truce proposal came after Israel's security cabinet approved plans to conquer Gaza City, despite fears it will worsen the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

Netanyahu's Gaza plan is about his own political survival
Netanyahu's Gaza plan is about his own political survival

South China Morning Post

time9 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Netanyahu's Gaza plan is about his own political survival

Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@ or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification This month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans for the military takeover of Gaza , portraying it as a decisive step to eliminate Hamas, free hostages and secure Israel's future. In reality, it marks a dangerous escalation and a failure of political imagination, more likely to deepen instability than bring peace. Israel says it already controls about 75 per cent of Gaza. It now seeks to take the rest, including refugee camps and dense civilian areas. Netanyahu's insistence on military action suggests desperation disguised as resolve. The hostage crisis since October 7, 2023 remains a tragedy, but shifting from negotiation to all-out occupation risks killing the very hostages Israel hopes to save. Intelligence indicates that fewer than half are still alive. On the ground, the humanitarian picture is dire: soaring civilian casualties, mounting evidence of famine and collapsing infrastructure. Human rights groups warn that Israel's tactics amount to collective punishment and violate international humanitarian law. The International Court of Justice has already cautioned Israel against actions that could amount to genocide. Yet Netanyahu's government presses ahead on a trajectory that shreds any semblance of a two-state solution. No credible plan exists for Gaza's post-war governance. Regional powers are uneasy. Egypt and Jordan have refused to absorb refugees. Saudi Arabia has put normalisation with Israel on hold, pending progress towards Palestinian statehood.

Gaza war: Israel demands full hostage release after Hamas backs new truce, source says
Gaza war: Israel demands full hostage release after Hamas backs new truce, source says

South China Morning Post

time20 hours ago

  • South China Morning Post

Gaza war: Israel demands full hostage release after Hamas backs new truce, source says

A senior Israeli official on Tuesday said the government stood firm on its call for the release of all hostages in any future Gaza deal, after Hamas accepted a new truce proposal. Mediators are awaiting an official Israeli response to the plan, a day after Hamas signalled its readiness for a fresh round of talks aimed at ending nearly two years of war. Mediator Qatar expressed guarded optimism for the new proposal, noting that it was 'almost identical' to an earlier version agreed to by Israel. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Israeli official said the government's stance had not changed and demanded the release of all hostages in any deal. The two foes have held on-and-off indirect negotiations throughout the war, resulting in two short truces during which Israeli hostages were released in exchange for Palestinian prisoners, but they have ultimately failed to broker a lasting ceasefire. Qatar and Egypt, backed by the United States, have mediated the frequent rounds of shuttle diplomacy.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store