Preview: Transit at Washington Arts Centre

 Award-winning Theatre company challenge perceptions of Iran

Transit

Washington Arts Centre

Thursday 2^nd March 2017

Transit, by the award-winning theatre company Zendeh visits Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 2 March at 7.30pm.  

This new performance explores the impact of the shooting down of Iran Air Flight 655 on one father daughter relationship. Transit is created and directed by UK based Iranian performer/director Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh and written by Steven Gaythorpe.

Director Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh is a child of Diaspora and of the 1979 revolution that ushered in the Islamic Republic of Iran. This has a profound influence in the creation, circulation and distribution of their theatre work, placing Iran as a character in all of Zendeh’s work.

For the first time in ten years Darya, and her father, Roger, meet in the transit lounge of Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam. She is a dual-national, trapped between two cultures, living through trauma; with a singing voice that lights the darkness. He is a professor of music, blinded by privilege, with a narrow view of the political landscape. As they reach out to one another, an event a world away impacts their reconciliation.

Transit is set on 4th July 1988, the day after Iran Air Flight 655, a civilian plane, was shot down by the United States Navy, killing all 290 passengers on board.

As creative inspiration Transit will reference King Lear (and its origins across Europe and the Middle East), Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi and personal experiences of fathers and daughters.

Zendeh is an award winning national touring theatre company with a reputation for making high quality, modern and relevant new work exploring themes such as migration, justice and gender equality.

Cast and creatives:

Director                                  Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh

Writer                                      Steven Gaythorpe

Composer                             Mariam Rezaei

Choreographer                   Nadia Iftkhar

Production Manager          Stacey Choudhury-Potter

Associate Lighting Designer                 Louise Anderson

Design Associate                 Jaheda Choudhury-Potter

Illustrator                               Erin McGrath

Research                               Elizabeth Scott

Proof Reader                        Ellie Puckering  

Tickets:
Transit visits Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 2 March as part of a national tour.  Tickets are From £6 and are available from www.artscentrewashington.co.ukor by calling 0191 561 3455.

TOUR

7 – 8 February 2017
The Byre, Abbey St, St Andrews KY16 9LA

26 February 2017
Rich Mix, 35-47 Bethnal Green Rd, London E1 6LA

28 February 2017
Octagon Bolton, Howell Croft S, Bolton BL1 1SB

2 March 2017
Arts Centre Washington, Biddick Ln, Washington NE38 8AB

9 – 11 March
Tron Theatre, 63 Trongate, Glasgow G1 5HB

14 – 15 March
Traverse Theatre, 10 Cambridge St, Edinburgh EH1 2ED

17 March
The Witham, 3 Horse Market, Barnard Castle, County Durham, DL12 8LY