Seattle Children's Theatre company has invited young Iranian puppeteer Yaser Khaseb to have three performances in the US. Khaseb, will take three of his shows on stage in Seattle for a month, ISNA reported.

Mysterious Gifts: Theatre of Iran
By Yaser Khaseb

• SEP 24 - OCT 11
• Ages 10+/Grades 5+
• Charlotte Martin Theatre
• Buy tickets online

Working with theatre artists from Iran and Holland, we are embarking on a special multi-year, cross-cultural exchange - Connecting Stories. It is a rare opportunity for us in the Pacific Northwest to see an authentic piece of theatre art from Iran. Performance artist Yaser Khaseb has crafted a show devised of several movement-based pieces, making the language barrier inconsequential, that give us entry into his world.

We begin our journey with a look at traditional Persian performance. With this view of a people with a rich history, often overshadowed by modern prejudices, we begin to see our human connection through the act of pure physical storytelling.

Yaser continues his exploration of visceral storytelling using the body to express the imaginative spirit in a modern context. With breathtaking puppetry, he shows us his battle with the self, and we see how easy it can be to lose that battle. You find yourself sitting forward, heart pounding to the beat of the music, breathless, able to feel yourself yearning and reaching as Yaser does. The energy is vibrant and palpable-emotion distilled into form and shape.

Next, Yaser moves us into a place outside of time-it could be past, present, or future. And we delve into the primal nature of creativity itself. As we watch a performer explore his surroundings, we are allowed to venture inward. Through physically manipulating another performer's body he turns mud into life, and we gain insight to the very core of what shapes creativity. This completely timeless and universal force that binds us all is made tangible and human.

A performance that takes us through time and into ourselves with a force and vitality that will set your imagination buzzing, this is a day at the theatre that will stay with you forever.

A Note from Artistic Director Linda Hartzell:
Mr. Khaseb is more than a performance artist; he is a kinesthetic storyteller, blending theatricality and movement to enliven universal stories of the human condition. Moreover, Yaser brings a distinctly Persian perspective and aesthetic, allowing our children not only to see a different cultural viewpoint but also how similar all of humanity truly is.

Age Recommendation:
10-years-old and up
The sophistication of storytelling structure and abstract themes make this accessible for upper elementary school at the youngest.

ASL Interpreted Dates:
Public - October 10 @ 2pm
Schools - October 7 @ 10:15am

Curriculum/Thematic Connections:
Persian Culture
Performance Art
Kurdish Culture
Movement
Storytelling

2 acts
Running Time: tbd

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