TEHRAN -- The “Ashura” opera puppet show by director Behruz Gharibpur will go on stage at the Ferdowsi Hall from December 12.

Plans were for the show to go on stage December 6, the beginning of Muhrram, the lunar month that marks the anniversary of the martyrdom of Imam Hussein (AS) and a number of his followers on the tenth of the month (Ashura).
However, performances were postponed on account of Tehran’s air pollution and also to allow the troupes time to bring stage props from Dubai where they had their previous performances, as the Persian service of ISNA reported.
The Ashura opera puppet show is a blend of music, puppetry, poetry, and tazieh (a form of Iranian passion play).
France’s Charleville-Mézières Puppet Theater Festival has also invited Gharibpur to stage his opera puppet show “Ashura” at the event, which will be held from September 16 to 25 in 2011.
The performance will be on stage until January 2, 2011.
Photo: Marionettes in a scene of a rehearsal for “Ashura” opera puppet show, which was performed at Tehran’s Ferdowsi Hall on December 30, 2008 (Mehr/Hamid Bazgosha)