PHT responds to current events in Iran
Like so many, we at PHT are watching what is happening in Iran right now, awed at the strength and courage of Iranian women fighting for their freedom, angered and heartbroken at the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. We stand with these women, and women everywhere, seeking freedom from oppression and violence. We have worked with Blackout Theater for years, initially partnering to help with their English translation of Echoes from Far Away Cities. We knew this story was powerful but had no idea just how relevant it would become.
We are proud to present Amir Hosseini’s courageous new work.
Documentary filmmaker Sanam sets out to capture a story of extreme domestic violence through an objective lens but finds herself becoming unsettled by familiar and escalating echoes in her own relationship. Both Iranian women, cities and lives apart, are bound by veiled and insidious acts of control from the men they married.
Through multimedia storytelling, Echoes from Far Away Cities courageously explores how impunity, silence, stigma and shame keep domestic violence as one of the most persistent and devastating global human rights violations today.
A Blackout Theater Production presented by Presentation House Theatre
Written & Directed by Amir N. Hosseini
Performers: Soha Sanajou, Panthea Vatandoost, Navid Charkhi, Nazanin Shoja, and Mehdi Darvish
Stage Manager: Yasaman Hosseini
Projection Designer: Andie Lloyd
Set Designer: Cecilia Vadala
Lighting Designer: Jacob Wan
Assistant Director: Sara Poursorkh
Marketing Manager: Shideh Taleban
Makeup Artist: Brianna Margerison
Active Listener: Faranak Ghorbani
Saturday, Oct 1 – 7:30pm
Sunday, Oct 2 – 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Amir N. Hosseini, playwright, director, and co-founder of Blackout Art Society became involved with this project after making a documentary about an acid attack victim in Iran more than ten years ago.
“The question started here, how can someone commit this level of violence? Then I realized abuse is not just a physical injury; it could be sexual, emotional, psychological, verbal, or financial. An abuser could be an educated person who uses threats and violence to gain power and control over their partner and take away their self-worth.” says Hosseini.
When asked what he hopes audiences will take away from Echoes from Far Away Cities, Hosseini replies, “Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today, yet it remains underreported due to impunity, silence, stigma and the shame surrounding it. That’s part of the issue, it mostly remains invisible. The idea behind this play is to find a way to show the invisible and, in doing so, share the devastating impact of trauma and domestic violence, in hopes of bringing awareness to the problem.”
An Iranian Canadian playwright and director and North Shore resident, Hosseini has written and directed in Vancouver’s Persian theatre scene since 2012 and opened his work to the broader community by writing and directing in English since 2020. In addition to his theatre experiences, Hosseini wrote and directed several short films and documentaries in Iran, before immigrating to Canada.
“Domestic violence is one of the most prevalent, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today, yet it remains underreported due to impunity, silence, stigma and the shame surrounding it. That’s part of the issue, it mostly remains invisible. The idea behind this play is to find a way to show the invisible and, in doing so, share the devastating impact of trauma and domestic violence, in hopes of bringing awareness to the problem.” — Amir N. Hosseini, playwright, director, and co-founder of Blackout Art Society
Viewer Discretion Advised
This production deals with difficult subject matter including references to domestic violence and acid attacks. Recommended for ages 17 and older.
Domestic Violence Resources
Help is available. If you or someone you know is living with domestic violence, please reach out for support. Read and/or download this full list of available resources to learn more.
(Compiled & verified by Blackout Art Society)
This project is generously supported by the Canada Council for the Arts, British Columbia Arts Council, City of Vancouver, North Vancouver Recreation and Culture Commission, Vancouver Civic Theatres, Presentation House Theatre, and Monex1 Currency Exchange.