A theatrical production for children and families around the world featuring storytelling, vibrant digital paintings and live orchestra. This 50-minute enchanting adaptation of a tale from Ferdowsi’s epic poem Shahnameh is offered alongside educational workshops and an immersive experience of Persian culture, transports children to the world of ancient Persia and exploring timeless themes of loss, hope, love and forgiveness.
Story: Adapted for children from Ferdowsi’s ancient Persian epic Shahnameh (Book of Kings)
Genre: Myth & Fantasy
Length: 45-50 minutes
Project Date: Autumn 2021
Artists
Composer: Shohreh Shakoory
Narrator/Soprano: April Fredrick
Illustrator: Meysam Mousavi
Visual Director: Farid Mollaei
Translator/Librettist: Siavash Yazdanifar, Shohreh Shakoory . trans. Prof Naser Kanani
Conductor: James Ross
Orchestra: Kent Sinfonia
Central Themes: Love, hope, forgiveness, inclusivity, ability to acknowledge wrong-doing, reconciliation, redemption, acceptance of people with different appearance and abilities
Project Aims
- Introducing children to the riches of Persian culture
- Celebrate the millennial anniversary of Ferdowsi’s death and the achievement in the Shahnameh, the longest epic poem in existence by a single author
- Introducing families to the sounds of ethnic Persian instruments
- Enrich cultural relations between Iran and Western countries in uncertain times
- Using live performance and storytelling to help children connect more deeply to the world of the story and the wisdom of our ancestors
- Encouraging openness and diversity
- Explore the rich ancient symbol of the Phoenix, which appears in the ancient literature of many cultures
- Workshops which help children explore the themes of forgiveness, reconciliation and acceptance of people with different appearance and abilities
Premiere
The premiere will feature a performance with Kent Sinfonia alongside workshops for children and families, a short lecture for older children and adults on the background of Shahnameh by our associated academic, and an interactive exhibition of Iranian arts and crafts, music and storytelling, with a chance to sample Persian cuisine.
Dissemination
The project website www.zalandphoenix.com offers more detail on the creative team, music, story and creative process and links to a short project introduction by Shohreh Shakoory and a three-minute teaser film. We will then make a high-quality audio and video recording of the project, which our conductor James Ross can distribute through his company Ulysses Arts, which has established distribution links to all the major streaming platforms. We are also considering an interactive children’s book with QR codes linking to audio and video clips from the project. This package of performances and education workshops is available for worldwide collaborations with local ensembles and educational organisations.
Information correct as of 9th November, 2020
Leave A Comment