Iran’s “Flying Shams” to land in Konya

The play, which has previously been performed in Tehran, Paris, and Rome, will be staged on September 30 to celebrate Rumi’s birthday in the Turkish city.

The play, previously performed in Tehran in 1999, depicts Rumi’s first encounter with his mentor Shams. Saberi received UNESCO’s Avicenna medal in 2003 for the staging of this drama along with the play “Mourning for Siavosh”.

“The play went on stage in Iran, France and Italy and now has been invited for performance on Rumi’s birthday,” Saberi told the Persian service of the Mehr News Agency.

“However, the onstage performance depends upon resolving budget issues. Staging won’t be possible unless financial support materializes,” she added.

She went on to say that application has been made to the Eastern Azerbaijan Province Office of the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance to perform the play in Tabriz and Khoy, but the exact date has not been finalized and further details are not yet available.

Saberi was awarded a Légion d’honneur medal by former French president Jacques Chirac in 2004.

She has previously directed several plays about Iranian luminaries, including Hafez and Sadi as well as some stories from Shahnameh.

Photo: Pari Saberi’s troupe performs “The Flying Shams” at Tehran’s Vahdat Hall in an undated photo. (Photo by Hamid Harasi)