TEHRAN – The National Library and Archives of Iran (NLAI), in collaboration with the Embassy of Norway in Tehran, will hold a commemoration ceremony for the renowned Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in Tehran on Monday.

Titled “An Evening with Ibsen,” the program will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the International Conference Hall of the NLAI. Participation in the session is open to the public, ISNA reported.

At the event, Gholamreza Amirkhani, President of the NLAI, and Paal Bjørnestad, Norway’s Ambassador to Tehran, will deliver speeches.

The program will also feature speeches by Iranian Norwegian artists and academics, who will discuss Ibsen’s works.

Iranian playwright and professor of performing arts Ghotbeddin Sadeghi will examine the innovations in Ibsen’s works in a panel titled “Ibsen: The Rebellious and Avant-Garde Playwright”.

Ardeshir Salehpour, Iranian researcher and university professor, will reflect on previous efforts to introduce and honor the writer at a panel titled “A Review of Ibsen Commemoration Ceremonies in Iran”.

Nader Borhani Marand, Iranian theater director, will introduce his latest staging of “The Wild Duck” and discuss Ibsen’s position in Iranian and global theater.

Renowned Iranian theater actor and director Mikaeil Shahrestani, will read selected passages from “An Enemy of the People”.

Nina Marie Evensen from the Center for Ibsen Studies at the University of Oslo will deliver an online lecture.

In addition, an exhibition will be held on the sidelines of the event, showcasing works related to Ibsen, including plays, academic theses, and samples of the playwright’s manuscripts.

Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906) is regarded as one of the greatest playwrights in history and is often referred to as the father of modern drama. His works, such as “A Doll’s House,” “Hedda Gabler,” “Ghosts,” “The Master Builder,” and “An Enemy of the People,” brought about a revolution in theater and continue to inspire contemporary drama worldwide.

He pioneered theatrical realism but also wrote lyrical epic works. Ibsen is the most frequently performed dramatist in the world after Shakespeare.

SS/SAB