Troilus and Cressida

“In my adaptation of Troilus & Cressida, I explore one of my favorite themes: the coexistence of diverse theatrical cultures on the same stage.”
Azadeh Kangarani
This production seamlessly blends Shakespeare’s blank verse with the tradition of Persian folk storytelling. At the center of the performance is a large illustrated curtain depicting scenes from the Trojan War, which the storytellers reference as they narrate the complex tale.
The story of the young Trojan prince Troilus and his love for Cressida, the daughter of Calchas, is told in the style of itinerant Persian storytellers, who once used painted curtains or scrolls to visually accompany their tales. The adaptation features three archetypal characters from traditional Persian storytelling: the Master, the Narrator, and Black.
By weaving these cultural forms together, the production creates a dialogue between Eastern and Western narrative traditions. It reimagines a classical text through a contemporary, cross-cultural lens, inviting the audience to experience a familiar story in an unfamiliar and compelling way.

Press

Director Azadeh Mohammadi Kangarani
Dramaturgy Azadeh Kangarani & Julek Neumann

Cast
Master Curtis Matthew
Narrator Karel Heřmánek
Black Kateřina Veckerová

Set and costume design Jalil Fotouhinia –

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