An adaptation of the celebrated British playwright and poet William Shakespeare’s tragedy “Macbeth” is on stage at Shahraz Theater in Tehran.
In “Macbeth Zar,” writer and director Ebrahim Poshtekouhi has mixed the original play with an old ritual from southern Iran, ILNA reported on its Persian website.
Zar, known as harmful wind in Iran’s southern coastal regions, is associated with the idea of possession by evil spirit widely believed among natives of the Persian Gulf regions.
In a Zar ceremony, mostly seen in the islands of Hormuz and Qeshm, the locals follow Babazar (exorcist) and recite a chant alongside playing percussion instruments including the drum and dhol to repeal the evil spirit.
Macbeth is the story of a brave Scottish general who receives a prophecy from three witches that one day he will become king of Scotland.
Consumed by ambition and spurred to action by his wife, he murders King Duncan and grabs the Scottish throne. But he becomes wracked with guilt and paranoia which forces him to commit more crimes.
However in the adapted production, by Titowak Theater Group, Macbeth lives in Hormuz Island, and kills the chief organizer of the Babazar rutual with the aim of becoming the king and ruler of those possessed by the evil spirits.
The adapted play was performed earlier at the Avignon Theater Festival in France, Russian Institute of Arts, and Spielart Festival in Munich. It was the winner of the best performance in Moscow Nights International Theater Festival in 2012.
Shahrzad Theater is located at No. 74, Neauphle-le-Château St., Hafez Avenue. The play will run until June 20.
