Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic at Toronto Centre for the Arts

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2. Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic

Organizers behind Tirgan Festival, the world’s largest celebration of Iranian arts and culture, present the critically-acclaimed Feathers of Fire: A Persian Epic, the most elaborate shadow puppet play ever performed and based on the 10th-century Persian epic Shahnameh (The Book of Kings). Feathers of Fire is a visually breathtaking, action-packed, cinematic production, created by 2014 Guggenheim fellowship-winning filmmaker/visual artist Hamid Rahmanian in collaboration with shadow master Larry Reed. The family-friendly play tells the magical tale of star-crossed lovers Zaul and Rudabeh, who triumph over inconceivable odds. Rahmanian utilized the graphics from his own 600-page illustrated book — which took him four years to create — in order to develop more than 160 shadow puppets for the production. Performers wear elaborate, handmade masks and costumes behind 100 digitally animated backgrounds lending an authentic texture to the performance— all seamlessly choreographed and projected on a cinema-size screen to create the feeling of live animation. The original score is provided by the acclaimed musical team Loga Ramin Torkian and Azam Ali.