A Moment of Silence

A young woman’s (Sheeva) life alternates between sleeping and awakening with 3-4 year intervals. Each awakening reveals a socio-political change, including revolution and war. While this life cycle is unfolded, the playwright who is in fact writing the young woman’s lifestory receives life threatening calls from the government’s secret agents.
The play has been widely admired for its innovative approach to playwriting and its audacity to bring to the surface issues of socio-political urgency. It has been translated to more than five languages and has been revived several times in the Middle East, Europe and North America. Its surreal narrative coupled with Mohammad’s poetic yet witty dramatic writing style addresses universal issues about freedom and security.

IRAN

November 8th-11th, 2018, directed by Dr. Kelly Carolyn Gordon, Concordia University , Austin, Texas, USA.
August 6th – 14th 2016, directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, at Factory Theatre, Toronto, Canada.
January 15th 2016, directed by Azadeh Mohammadi, Prague, Czech Republic.
November 6th 2015, directed by Azadeh Mohammadi, Prague, Czech Republic.
June 14th, 15th & 16th 2015, directed by Azadeh Mohammadi, Prague, Czech Republic.
March 6th to 8th 2015, directed by Bella Warda, Central Stage in Richmond, California, USA
September 28th 2015, directed by Shohreh Asemi, NOVA Annandale Ernst Cultural Center, Washington, USA
May 2014, Staged reading in French, translated by Liliane Anjo and directed by Mehdi Goleij, Montreal, Canada.
March 2014, Staged reading in French, translated by Liliane Anjo and directed by Philippe Beheydt, Brussels, Belgium.
May 2012, staged reading in English, translated and directed by Torange Yeghiazarian, San Francisco, USA.
December 2012, Staged reading in French, translated by Liliane Anjo and directed by Frédéric Dussenne, Brussels, Belgium.
May 2010, directed by Aida Keykhaii, Tehran, Iran.
December 2001, directed by Mohammad Yaghoubi, Tehran, Iran.

‘A Moment of Silence’ received the following awards:

• The third place winner of the New Play Contest in Toronto Fringe Festival, 2016

• The Playwrights Society of Iran Award for outstanding play, 2012

• The National Theatre Critics Society Award for Outstanding Direction in 2002

• The International Theatre Festival of Iran Award for Outstanding Direction, 2001

Video

Interview with Playwright

Mohammad Yaghoubi

Name of the Playwright in English

2001

Year of Writing

2001

Year of the First Staging