TEHRAN-The play “Agoraphobia” written by the Romanian-French playwright and novelist Matei Visniec and directed by Hanieh Karandish is on stage at Shahrzad Theater Complex in Tehran.

The short work, 45 minutes, is an episodic play consisting of four parts. Three episodes include monologues and one will be performed by two actors. Pegah Nekookar and Hasti Hayati are in the cast.

It is about the loneliness and concern of today's people. The stage design consists of paper hats that represent people.

The play is a part of Visniec’s book “Beware of Old Ladies Gnawed by Solitude” that includes a series of short pieces divided into three parts that follow three spatial themes of borders, agoraphobia, and desert.

Matei Vișniec, 67, is internationally known especially for his writings in the French language. After the fall of communism in Romania, in 1989, he became one of the most performed playwrights in the country, with more than 30 plays put on in Bucharest and other towns. 

His international audience as a playwright started in 1992, with the play “Horses at the Windows” performed in France, and “Old Clown Wanted” at the Bonner Biennale. Since then, Vișniec has had more than 20 plays performed in France, Germany, the U.S., Denmark, Austria, Poland, Finland, Italy, Turkey, Brazil, Romania, Azerbaijan, Moldavia, and Georgia.

“Agoraphobia” will remain on stage until the end of December at Shahrzad Theater Complex located at No. 74, Neauphle-le-Château St., Hafez St.

SS/SAB