23 and 24 September 2026
University of St Andrews
Alternative Visions of Emancipation and Heroism in Iranian Theatre
Conference Programme
Abstracts & Bios
In the past two centuries, Iranian Theatre has been at the forefront of emancipatory innovation in its underground and overground stages. This international conference brings scholars and practitioners together to initiate a new momentum for the study of Iranian Theatre. As the title, ‘Alternative Visions of Emancipation and Heroism in Iranian Theatre‘ suggests the idea is to explore the variety of ways Iranian playwrights, directors and theatre makers have worked collaboratively to reformulate indigenous and global dramatic forms and create new visions of heroism and emancipation. The conference is also to create a forum for finding and defining new paths of scholarship investigating the ways theatre has continued to shape and reshape the givens of Iranian civilization to create an increasingly more cosmopolitan and future-directed and yet inherently Iranian and visions of togetherness and identity.
Except for the performance of the play, Theatre Laundering, which is staged in and ticketed by the Byre Theater, the event is free and open to public in whole or parts through pre-booking. For more information and booking, please contact Saeed Talajooy [email protected]
Venues:
Wednesday, 23 September, 13.30-18.00, Room 216 Buchanan Building, Union Street, St Andrews KY16 9PQ.
Wednesday, 23 September, 18.30-21.30, Main Auditorium, The Byre Theatre, Abbey Street, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9LA.
Thursday, 24 September, 9.00-15.00, GWY: Seminar Rooms 4 and 5 (basement), The Gateway, North Haugh, St Andrews, KY16 9RJ.
The conference has been funded by the British Institute of Persian Studies, the Honeyman Foundation, School of Modern Languages (University of St Andrews), and Institute of Iranian Studies (University of St Andrews).
The Honeyman foundation was established by the generosity of A.M. (Sandy) Honeyman, a former Professor in the University of St Andrews in 1985 with the aim of encouraging education and research in general and study of Middle Eastern languages and cultures, in particular.