Street Theater Can Be Effective in Boosting Public Morale and Promoting Peace

Tabriz – The director of the play "Hana's Loneliness" said theatrical works on war and peace can play a role in conveying human concepts, changing the social mood, and strengthening public morale.

Morteza Quaidpouri, theater artist and director of "Hana's Loneliness" show from Bushehr province, in an interview with Mehr reporter, referring to his attendance at the 7th Tabrizim Street Theater Festival, emphasized the need for artists to pay attention to social issues and their responsibility towards the people and their land.

Stating that he attended this festival from the southernmost point of Iran, Bushehr province, he said: "Participating in this artistic event is a great honor for me and it provided an opportunity to share our experiences with artists from other provinces and get to know different works and methods of performing street theater."

Referring to his years of activity in the field of stage and street theater, Quaidpouri added: Attending the Tabrizim Festival was a valuable and fruitful experience. Because during this event, we got to know many artists and watched shows with different styles and approaches, each of which can be a ground for learning and gaining new experiences.

Emphasizing the importance of the quality of works and the role of judges in the evaluation of theatrical productions, this theater director appreciated the efforts of the organizing group in the cultural, social and sports organization of Tabriz Municipality and said: Festivals are a good opportunity to exchange experience, get to know different perspectives and improve the capabilities of artists. I hope that at the end of this event, worthy works will be noticed and the participants will be able to take advantage of the opportunities provided to continue their artistic activities.

"Hannah's Loneliness"; The narrative of a woman's resistance in war conditions

Explaining the theme of the show "Loneliness of Hana", Quaidpuri stated: This work is based on world peace and deals with the lives of people who struggle to survive and maintain hope in the difficult conditions caused by war. In some parts of the show, the situation of the people of Gaza and other war-torn countries is discussed.

He continued referring to the main character of this show: the story is about a pregnant woman who tries to survive in war conditions and waits for her husband to return; But in the end it is clear that his wife was martyred.

The director of the show "Hanna's Loneliness" stated that this woman's attempt to continue living alongside the suffering caused by the war and the loss of her husband forms the main axis of the narrative, adding: In this work, we have tried to depict some of the difficulties that humans, especially women, face in war situations.

According to him, war is not limited to the battlefield, but its consequences also affect people's daily lives, families and future. Therefore, dealing with human experiences in the heart of war can introduce the audience to other dimensions of this phenomenon and remind the necessity of peace and preservation of human lives.

The effect of street theater on the audience; From entertainment to attention to human concepts

In response to a question about the capacity of street theater to influence people's mood in post-war conditions, this theater artist pointed to the experience of performing a play in one of the schools and said: At the beginning of the performance, the students laughed, rejoiced and sometimes joked with each other; But as the show progressed, I noticed that they pay more attention to the performance and follow the story carefully.

He added: This experience showed me that a dramatic work can gradually involve the audience with its subject and lead him from the initial atmosphere of watching to paying attention to the story and the concepts presented in it.

Emphasizing the impact of plays on the subject of war and peace, Quaidpouri stated: Regardless of festivals and art gatherings, I believe that a play about war or promoting peace can have an impact on the audience. The experience I have gained from various performances has strengthened this belief in me.

Referring to the feature of street theater in direct communication with people, he noted: this type of performance provides the possibility of being present in public spaces, schools and urban environments, and the artist can communicate with the audience without intermediaries. Such a capacity allows plays to address social and human issues in addition to their artistic and entertaining side.

According to this director, topics such as war, loss, resistance and peace can be presented in the form of dramatic stories and can be a reason for the audience to reflect on the conditions of people who are involved in crises and conflicts.

Social responsibility of artists towards the people and martyrs of the country

Emphasizing the need for artists to pay attention to their social responsibility, Quaidpouri said: I believe that one of the most important duties of artists, especially in the current situation, is to pay attention to the responsibility they have towards society and people.

Referring to the experience of the eight years of holy defense, he said: During that period, many films and dramas were produced on the subject of war and holy defense, and artists used the capacity of art to narrate events and reflect people's experiences. Even today, art can play a role in reflecting the realities of society and strengthening the spirit of people.

Stating that artistic activity cannot be separated from the social environment and the land in which the artist lives, this artist said: Every artist has a connection with his land, people and country, and he should create an artwork in accordance with his field of activity about the homeland, people and loved ones that we have lost and whose loss continues to weigh heavily on the heart of the society.

Quaidpouri continued: Artists in different disciplines can respond to this responsibility with their specialized tools; A painter with a painting, a calligrapher with the art of calligraphy, a cinematographer with a film production, and a theater artist with the creation and performance of a show can narrate part of the concerns and realities of society.

He emphasized: Each of the arts has its own language and capacity to communicate with people, and artists should use these capacities to express issues that are directly related to society's life, feelings and experiences.

The presence of artists from different provinces in the 5th national street theater festival of Tabrizim has provided the opportunity to get acquainted with the diverse experiences and approaches of street theater. A type of performing arts that, by being present in public environments, provides artists with the possibility of direct communication with different groups of audiences and the presentation of social and human issues.