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H<\/strong>ere at Boston Experimental Theatre Company (BETC), I am excited to announce our new project: M(O)ther to be rehearsed and performed online. M(O)ther<\/span> is a collaboration between artists from Iran, Iraq, Turkey, South Africa, and the United States. It continues BETC\u2019s efforts to emulate Dariush Shayegan\u2019s philosophy of \u201cDialogue of Civilizations\u201d -a set of ideals that encourage interplay among people of different cultures, to spark global understanding and empathy. I am hoping that with our new project, and together with YOU (audiences), we create an environment of cultural dialogue for artists and free thinkers from around the globe. We deeply rely on your support to join us in this effort; this unique project (to our knowledge) is the first collaboration among Iranian, Iraqi, and American artists after many years of wars between their politicians. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

BETC relies strongly on live performance, but unfortunate political decisions by our governments have led us to utilize the internet as well to create artistic expression that goes beyond borders and political regulations. In 2013 we produced and performed the very first Iranian-American co-production<\/span> Creatures<\/a><\/em>, and since then we developed several more collaborative productions between Iranian, American, and international artists. Our productions include three adaptations of<\/span> Shahnameh<\/em><\/a> (2014-2015-2020), an adaptation of Sadegh Hedayat masterpiece<\/span> The Blind Owl<\/a><\/em> (2015), and the first two<\/span> Apartment <\/a>productions in Boston–as immersive theater project where we invited the audiences to our apartments and performed the shows in the basement, bedrooms, bathroom, and living room (2015-2017).<\/span> <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

At the beginning of 2017, we were preparing for an Iranian colleague to join us in Boston for a new collaboration. Then U.S. President, Donald Trump, signed Executive Order 13769 to immediately ban citizens of six predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, from entering the United States. We had no choice except to develop the play and have rehearsals online (a 21st-century production addressing 21st-century conflicts). Depressed and disgusted by this ban, we adapted the production to accommodate the new travel restrictions affecting our Iranian colleagues and to express our desire to fight the Trump administration\u2019s racist policies.<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The result was the play<\/span> Fish Trees<\/a><\/em>, a true-to-life story of lovers separated by circumstance. In the play, BETC company member Jared Wright performed live on stage in Boston as he interacted with Donya Pooli, whose image was cast by video from Iran. A coproduction that took place simultaneously on opposite sides of the globe, \u201cFish Trees\u201d developed into an intercultural love affair with universal appeal that stepped over the political and geographical barriers enacted by the Trump administration. This production germinated a seed that has steadily grown into our current project: <\/span>M(O)ther<\/span><\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

At Boston Experimental Theatre Company, I strongly believe in a highly improvisational rehearsal process informed by the psychological and dramatic philosophy of Antonin Artaud and the organic, minimalist directorial techniques of Jerzy Grotowski. With intensely physical bodywork, the composition of original music, the adaptation of poetries from different languages, and an earnest exploration of each culture’s impact on our collective psyche, our company strives to transform the solitary despair of each artist into a communal celebration of a living experience. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

For this experience to reach its goal, we ask that you spread the word and join our online<\/a> performances. We will be streaming the production live on YouTube<\/a> on 9 August 2020<\/strong>, 2 pm EST, 8 pm South Africa, 9 pm Iraq and Turkey, 10:30 pm Iran.<\/strong><\/strong> Until then, please help us spread the word and let me know if you have any suggestions, comments, or questions. I am hoping that this becomes the first of many performances, collaborating with more artists and free thinkers from around the globe. <\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Love,<\/span> <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Vahdat Yeganeh<\/span><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Founder\/artistic director<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Boston Experimental Theatre Company. <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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