TEHRAN -- Singer Reza Yazdani and the Virgule Theater Troupe gave performances on the theme of Hafez to inaugurate Iran’s first portable hall. 

The hall, which is named after Hafez, was opened during a ceremony on Wednesday attended by several officials and artists at the Rudaki Foundation.

Renowned pop star Reza Yazdani performed two poems composed by Hafez for the first time during the opening ceremony.

The virgule Theater Troupe accompanied by stage director Arvand Dashtaray performed “In the Valley of Shrewd”, a theatrical performance based on poetry by Hafez. 

Baharan Bani-Ahmadi, Pantea panahiha, Setareh Pesyani, Hanieh Tavassoli, Yasser Khaseb and Tannaz Tabatabaii played in it.

The Hafez Hall has a height of nine meters and is equipped with elevating equipment. The audience seats are also portable which makes different types of performances possible.

At the ceremony, the managing director of the Qermez Company, which designed and built the hall, Arman Jafari, expressed his thanks to the Rudaki Foundation for their support of the project.

“We had proposed making the hall which was warmly welcomed by the officials of Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and the Rudaki Foundation,” he said.

Using portable construction will lead to decentralization of theater performances in Iran.

Arvand Dashtaray, who was also the designer of the hall concept, said that at first, the project seemed impossible, however with support it became possible.

“With construction of such places for theater, people will become more familiar with the dramatic arts which will lead to a decrease in social crimes,” he said.

At the ceremony, Rudaki Foundation Director Hossein Parsaii said that the hall,which will officially open with the 13th Resistance Theater Festival, has a capacity of 375 persons.

Deputy Culture Minister for Artistic Affairs Hamid Shahabadi expressed his hope that the support offered by the private sector helps theater find its place in Iran.

SB/YAW

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