Zendeh Theatre to Present New Play CINEMA at Tristan Bates Theatre, Oct 19-24

After a run at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the Northern Stage and Summerhall festival programme -- award-winning theatre company ZENDEH -- present CINEMA. The new play explores a little known story in the west -- that of the Cinema Rex Fire, Abadan, Iran which killed 422 people on the 19 August 1978. The terrorist attack is one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in modern history. The production runs 19-24 October at 7.30 p.m. at London's Tristan Bates Theatre.

The act of terror sparked a revolution. CINEMA asks who will remember the dead? The story of Iran -- the country we recognise from newsreels and loaded political soundbites -- is so much more: rich, complex, diverse and human. Come with Shahrzad, and hear those stories.

CINEMA is created and performed by Nazli Tabatabai-Khatambakhsh and written by Steven Gaythorpe. The piece has already been invited to tour internationally to Grahamstown, South Africa and Calcutta, India.

A story central to the rece nnt political history of Iran, during a screening of the film Gavaznha "The Deer" at the local cinema in Abadan, a fire was started, and although 278 people escaped, 422 were trapped and killed. The attack was later claimed by Islamic Militants and lit the touch paper for huge political upheaval in Iran.

CINEMA follows one of those who escaped -- the cinema cat, Shahrzad. When the cat returns to the building, she searches for her friends and regular cinema goers. Her motives are simple. Her discoveries horrific. We watch Shahrzad -- feral cat, teller of tales -- plead with Death for one more life. To have another saucer of milk. To tell the stories of the dead.

How do things look through the eyes of a cat tiptoeing through scenes of devastation -- a chance to retell her nine lives. Something more complex and inexplicable emerges than the space front pages of papers around the world can afford to another tragedy: the real people, lives, plans and hopes are uncovered.

IF YOU GO:

CINEMA

Manchester STUN Studio Z-Arts 6th-10th October
7.30pm Tuesday - Friday / 2.30pm Sat 10th. BSL Performance Fri 9th
Newcastle Northern Stage 13th-15th October 7.45pm BSL performance Thurs 15th
London Tristan Bates Theatre 19th - 24th October 7.30pm BSL performance Fri 23rd
ALL performances will be followed by a curated social talk -- the panel will be announced in advance.

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