TEHRAN-The play “Hello and Goodbye,” written by South African playwright Athol Fugard and directed by Shahabeddin Hosseinpour is on stage at Hafez Theater Hall in Tehran.

The deceptively simple play, written in 1965, tells the story of a brother and sister who delayed the responsibility of becoming adults to the point they lost the purpose of existence. Now, facing the death of their father, they realise they do not know how to live with others, the world, nor build their own future.

The audience is called to listen to the stories of a painful family past, the history of a country marred by war, inequality and misery, and the history of religion in western cultures. It is the story of those who find themselves orphans of parents and nation, and are left with nothing but the questioning of their identities.

Fugard, 91, is an internationally acclaimed playwright, novelist, actor, and director widely regarded as South Africa's greatest playwright. He is best known for his political and penetrating plays opposing the system of apartheid in South Africa and for the 2005 Oscar-winning film of his novel “Tsotsi”. 

Educated at the University of Cape Town, he was an adjunct professor of playwriting, acting and directing in the Department of Theater and Dance at the University of California, San Diego. Acclaimed as “the greatest active playwright in the English-speaking world” by Time in 1985, Fugard continues to write and has published more than 30 plays.

He is the recipient of many awards, honours, and honorary degrees, including the 2005 Order of Ikhamanga in Silver for his excellent contribution and achievements in the theater  from the government of South Africa. He is also an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature.

Mehdi Farizeh, Hediyeh Azidhak, and Amir Sedighian perform in the play that will remain on stage until the end of December at the Hafez Theater Hall located on Shahriar St., across from Vahdat Hall.

SS/SAB