St. Ann’s Warehouse in Brooklyn will host the North American premiere of Amir Reza Koohestani’s play Blind Runner from Jan. 4-24, kicking off a yearlong celebration of its 45th anniversary.
The production, presented in collaboration with Waterwell, Nimruz and Under the Radar, a NYC-based festival that promotes local and international theater and performances works.
Blind Runner explores themes of freedom, resilience and connection during political turmoil, according to a press release.
Blind Runner, which debuted in May 2023 at the Kunstenfestivaldesarts in Brussels, tells the story of a husband visiting his wife, a political prisoner in Tehran. Their strained relationship unfolds alongside the husband’s growing bond with a blind woman he trains for a footrace at his wife's insistence.
Koohestani said about the inspiration behind Blind Runner: "Why the blind runner? Samaneh Ahmadian, the dramaturg for this performance, first showed me the photo of the blind runners next to their guides at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Two bodies with their hands tied together, one blindfolded and the other with their eyes wide open, are running with all their might. Seeing those photos, something stirred in me.
"This time, running, which has always been an image of freedom for me, found a better way to round off the definition of freedom. As for a blind person with his or her guide runner, freedom is collective. You can’t be free when you are alone. In the crowd’s presence, freedom and the struggle for it gain meaning.”
Accompanying the play is Unseen Iran: A Celebration of Iranian Art & Culture, a curated series of programs highlighting Iranian art and resistance.
The events, curated by Tony and Emmy nominee Arian Moayed, will include art installations, a Persian tea room, and a weekend festival from Jan.10-12.
Art installations will feature works by acclaimed Iranian artists, including Shirin Neshat and Tahmineh Monzavi. A Persian tea room with daily offerings of tea, rugs, and artistic displays will provide audiences with a cultural immersion experience before performances.
The Unseen Iran festival includes a puppet show, a screening of Iranian short films with a Q&A session, and a backgammon tournament, offering family-friendly activities and community events.
“We are thrilled to be presenting Blind Runner along with Unseen Iran and to be working with Waterwell and Under the Radar. What a treat for American audiences to experience such a rich culture," said St. Ann’s Warehouse Artistic Director Susan Feldman.
Tickets for Blind Runner are available at stannswarehouse.org. Performances will run through January 24, with an official opening night on January 8.
